Magee-Womens Research Institute Cores for Health Research Projects
MWRI has several cores for health research projects that offer our investigators special expertise and access to sophisticated equipment. These include:
Flow Cytometry Research Core
Co-directed by Anda Vlad, MD, PhD and Joan Brozick
This core is equipped with a new, three-laser LSR II instrument (BD Bios)for health research projects. The blue (488 nm), red (633 nm) and violet (405 nm) lasers allow simultaneous analysis of up to eight colors. The LSRII is intranet-connected, and operated by FACSDiva software.
Histologies Research & Micro-Imaging Research Core
Directed by Carlos Castro, MD, DMD
This core provides investigators with high-quality rapid tissue processing and imaging services for health research projects. Several integral pieces of equipment for histologies research and micro imaging research are utilized, including a Leica cryostat, an embedding station, processor, microtome, and grossing station, as well as facilities for immunohistochemical and in situ staining procedures. The core houses a micro-imaging and analysis suite that features a Nikon 90i, a fully motorized upright microscope for capturing high-quality and high-resolution brightfield, DIC, and fluorescence images. The suite includes a laser capture system and three laser confocal microscopes equipped for live cell imaging.
Proteomics Research Core
Directed by William Bigbee, PhD
The core provides high-throughput, quantitative proteomic analysis for proteomics research, using mass spectrometry. Comprehensive proteomic resources and instrumentation for health research projects include two ThermoElectron LTQ XLs linear ion trap mass spectrometers, a ThermoElectron TSQ ULTRA triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with FAIMS source, coupled to a nanoflow HPLC, two ThermoElectron LTQ-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometers, Dionex Ultimate 3000 series nanoflow HPLCs that enable automated data acquisition, a Bruker Daltronics Ultraflex II MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometer, and a Dionex series 3000 HPLC system equipped with a UV/Vis detector for workflows requiring multidimensional fractionation of proteins, all supported by extensive informatics software.
Transgenic & Molecular Research Core
Directed by Kyle Orwig, PhD and Yi Sheng, MD, PhD
This core is dedicated to shepherding transgenic model projects from vector design to the establishment of valuable transgenic lines for health research projects. The core provides technical expertise, advice, and training for MWRI investigators and the University of Pittsburgh. Equipment includes a Nikon Eclipse Ti injection station, Hofmann modulation optics, Narishigi micromanipulators, Eppendorf Celltram Vario and Celltram Air injector, Piezo injection system, and epifluorescence.
Additional Cores for Health Research Projects
In addition to the Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital, investigators are able to take advantage of many resources for health research projects located at the University of Pittsburgh. These include the University's Biologic Imaging Core, Genomics and Proteomics Core Labs, the Center for Genomic Research and Informatics, as well as the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the Swanson School of Biomedical Engineering, and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.