Shared Research Facilities and Equipment

The Immune Profiling Core offers fee for service sample processing, cryopreservation, biobanking, and immunological assays such as flow cytometry, luminex, ELISpot, and ELISA. In addition, Core staff offer guidance in support of grant/contract applications as well as assay/study design, training and mentoring.

We provide light microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy (TEM & SEM) equipment and technical support to ASU and western North Carolina. See policy at: http://www.casmifa.appstate.edu/Policies.html

The Duke Chemistry Instrumentation Facility houses modern and diverse instrumentation for a range of analytical needs, including mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and a variety of spectroscopies. Most instruments in the instrument laboratories are available for researchers on a direct-walk-up basis once they have received the required training from the Facility’s director. Reservations for many instruments can be made on-line by a qualified user once they have been provided access to the calendars by the Facility’s director.

The DFGSR provides infrastructure and expertise for the implementation of CRISPR and RNAi-based technologies, both small- and genome-scale. We also provide compound screening services and high-throughput assay development. Open to non-Duke investigators.

The Duke Microbiome Shared Resource provides a centralized resource hub to enhance the existing interactions with the Duke Microbiome Center, Duke Cancer Institute, and Genomic and Computational Biology shared resources to address the role of microbial systems in human healthcare, food production and environmental restoration. This resource will provide access to a variety of services that will enable researchers to focus on microbial communities (bacteria, fungi and virus), immune oncology, cancer research and infectious disease.

Duke MGC uses state-of-the-art technology to offer a variety of experimental platforms to facilitate genomics research for single-cell omics, DNA genotyping, DNA copy number, and DNA methylation.

The Neurotransgenic Laboratory (NTL) at Duke University conducts technology development research and provides services and training towards the genetic analysis of the nervous system. The nervous system with its vast diversity of cell types and synaptic connections requires sophisticated tools to visualize and modify neuronal activity and interactions. Genetically engineered reporters and effectors allow such precise modifications. The Neurotransgenic Laboratory is focused on the design and generation of genetic tools for neuroscience research. Such tools include viruses for the precise stereotactical application of transgenes, plasmids and BACs for the generation of transgenic animals, genetically modified embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells for differentiation and transplantation studies as well as for the generation of genetically modified animals. The NTL offers coordinated expertise in the generation of genetic tools for neuroscience research (")from concept through creation("), including experimental project design and planning, molecular construct preparation, high titer virus production, stem cell modifications, and mouse embryo microinjections. Ultimately, the mission of the NTL is to provide an enriched environment for students, trainees, and established investigators and to develop, promote, and enhance the use of sophisticated genetic tools for understanding and resolving biomedical problems in basic and translational neuroscience research.

We provide small animal imaging instrumentation, training and analysis support. Whole animal imaging systems are capable of combined fluorescence, bioluminescence, and x-ray imaging. We also offer intravital microscopy including surgical training and support.

SERVICES PROVIDED: • Comprehensive PRECLINICAL PK/PD support (drug properties, formulation, drug administration, blood/tissue collection, LC/MS/MS or HPLC analysis, PK/PD calculations, dosing regimen design) • Phase I/II CLINICAL PK support (study design, sampling protocol, plasma analysis, PK calculations) • CUSTOM small molecule analysis of drugs, drug metabolites, biomarkers, physiological metabolites in cell culture, biofluids (e.g. blood, plasma, serum, milk, synovial fluid, etc.), and tissues (tumor, vital organs, skin, fat, bone marrow, bone, etc.) MAJOR TECHNOLOGY: • Applied Biosystems/Sciex API 5500 QTrap and API 4000 QTrap, MS/MS spectrometers with Shimadzu 20A and Agilent 1100/1200 HPLC stacks HPLC-fluorescence, HPLC-UV/vis • Shimadzu 20A series HPLC-UV/vis and Waters 2695 series HPLC fluorescence and UV/vis. • Brookhaven 90Plus PALS dynamic light scattering (DLS) for nanoparticle size and zeta-potential

The Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility provides capabilities for mass spectrometry based proteomics and metabolomics for identification and quantitation, including biomarker discovery and biomarker verification experiments. The DPMSR is in a ~8,100 sq. ft. laboratory in the Chesterfield Building in Downtown Durham, one custom built for mass spectrometry based proteomics and metabolomics. For qualitative identifications and biomarker discovery experiments (‘omic-scale qualitative and quantitative analyses), the laboratory is equipped with eight high resolution accurate mass LC-MS/MS systems, each using a dedicated ultra-high performance liquid chromatography systems (Waters Acuity or nanoAcquity). Five of these systems are hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometers – a Fusion Lumos Tribrid with ETD, a Fusion Lumos Tribrid with ETD and UVPD, a Q-Exactive Plus, a Q-Exactive-HF-X and a LTQ-Orbitrap (Thermo). The other three systems are hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometers (one Synapt G1, and two Synapt G2 High Definition Mass Spectrometers, Waters). For biomarker verification experiments metabolomic analyses and pharmacokinetic analyses, targeted mass spec quantitative experiments are performed on an Acquity or nanoAcquity UPLC system coupled to a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (one Waters Xevo TQ-XS and two Waters Xevo TQ-S). For these experiments, data acquisition is accomplished using LC-MS/MS with Multiple Reaction Monitoring. There are four Waters nanoAcquity LC systems, two multidimensional Waters nanoAcquity LC/LC systems, one Acquity-M Class LC/LC, and three Acquity LC systems. There is an I-Class Acquity coupled to a Waters’ Fraction Manager (two 96 well plates) for offline fractionation (high pH RP or SCX). Additionally, our lab is equipped with two microfluidic capilary electrophoresis 908 ZipChip systems for use with the Lumos and QE-HF-X. The laboratory also has the tools needed for enrichments (chemical and/or antibody-based) of sub-proteomes based on Post-Translational Modifications, including glycosylation, phosphorylation (pST, pY, pSTY global or kinase motif-specific enrichments), acetylation, ubiquitination, methylation, acylation, and S-nitrosylation, followed by characterization using UPLC-MS/MS or UPLC/UPLC-MS/MS. For metabolomic studies, the DPMSR has targeted assays for >750 metabolites, including amino acids, biogenic amines, lipids, bile acids, oxylipins, hydroxycholesterols, fatty acids (long chain and short chain), purines/pyrimidines, and energy cycle metabolites. Metabolomic analyses using the Biocrates platforms are available (Q500, p180, bile acids).