Research Capacity Cores Funded by the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program in Health Disparities Research at Meharry Medical College, the Meharry RCMI Research Capacity Cores are ready to support transdisciplinary research spanning micro to macro scales of inquiry in pursuit of health equity.
• Molecular Biology
The Molecular Biology Core at Meharry Medical College is a multi-functional facility that provides the primary service of DNA sequencing, but also provides access to shared equipment housed in a centralized location and facilitates convenient and rapid access to frequently used molecular biological reagents. The Core also maintains an Invitrogen Supply Center that stocks routinely used reagents for molecular biological research.
• Flow Cytometry The Flow Cytometry Core provides advance instrumentation and high level technical and scientific expertise in multi-dimensional Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting, The FACSAria III from Becton Dickinson (BD) includes three solid-state lasers: blue (488nm), red (633nm), and violet (405). The system has the ability to detect five colors from the blue laser, two colors from the red laser, and two colors from the violet laser for a total of nine simultaneous fluorescent colors. The detection optics include BD’s patented fiber-coupled octagon and trigon technology. The digital acquisition system allows inter- and intra-beam compensation as well the ability to threshhold on any parameter. The automated cell deposition unit (ACDU) can accommodate slides and 6, 24, 48, 96, and 384-well plates. The CytoFLEX S Flow Cytometer from Beckman Coulter is equipped with the advanced avalanche photodiode detecting system and Violet Side Scatter option, which provides the CytoFLEX with exceptional detection capabilities, large dynamic range to resolve dim and bright populations in the same sample, and power of nanoparticle detection. The Luminex Aminis® Time Delay Integration (TDI) sensory technology is a unique flow cytometry system is equipped with single-tube and 96-well plate loaders for single samples or multiple, automated sampling. The four lasers (405nm, 488 nm, 532nm, and 642nm), enable up to 17 parameters. The CellStream signal is detected by a charge-coupled device (CCD)-camera using TDI sensory technology.
• Gene Editing Service
The Gene Editing Service Core provides internal and external investigators access to state-of-the-art genome editing technologies. Our dedicated technical staff assists with the high-efficiency generation of genetically knockout or knockin cells in cell lines and progenitor cells. Working closely with investigators, our staff assists in designing guide RNAs, preparing reagents, transfection/infection procedures, cloning, screening and assessment of potential off-target effects.
• Biosafety Level 3 Lab
The BSL-3 Lab provides a safe environment for the investigation of infectious pathogens. The design of the lab limits exposure to such agents. The laboratory personnel have specific training in proper handling procedures. There are four biosafety cabinets and six CO2 incubators inside the lab accommodating up to eight researchers simultaneously. The free-standing Beckman Optima L-90K Ultracentrifuge has an SW60Ti and an SW41 rotor for sample processing.
DUNS—04-143-8185
NAICS 541690, 541710; 541711; 541712; 611310
CAGE CODE—4W784