Technology and Resources for Research Core Laboratories

Overview

The Alliance Technologies and Resources for Research Core Laboratories (TRRCL) bridges the gap in essential technical resources by: supporting research training for investigators and trainees, providing continued training and education for core directors and staff; and providing technical expertise and services for investigators across the Alliance.

The Core ensures a greater integration of training and professional development activities with the Alliance’s Professional Development Core (PDC) across the partner institutions through a novel Training Organization Committee. TRRCL is innovative because it extends core services to include the IDeA National Resource for Proteomics in Oklahoma and Arizona INBREs and will integrate the existing TRRCL research cores with other INBRE and COBRE Cores in Puerto Rico.

Goals & Objectives

Our goal is to improve joint research facilities for investigators pursuing clinical and translational research, to improve health in under-resourced PR communities.

Core Aims

Specific Aim 1. Support research training for faculty investigators and other trainees pursuing clinical and translational research and provide continued training and education for core directors and technical support staff.
Specific Aim 2. Provide technical expertise and services for investigators conducting clinical and translational research.
Specific Aim 3. Increase TRRCL´s visibility and impact through access to diverse core services and community participation for clinical and translational investigators.

Main Activities

Research Training Opportunity Program (RTOP).
- The Research Training Opportunity Program (RTOP) is based on a technology transfer strategy in which Alliance researchers participate in a two-stage training process.
  - Stage 1, the Alliance will fund one visit per year by an eligible Alliance investigator to travel to a host laboratory within a U.S. institution that has developed and standardized the desired emerging technology. The investigators will establish a relationship with the PI at the hosting laboratory and will learn how to implement the specific methodology in Puerto Rico.
  - Stage 2, will consist of a visit to Puerto Rico of the host PI to continue with the implementation of the technology within the Alliance institution by providing scientific expertise.
Early Stage Career Investigator Development Program (ESCID)
Research Training Seminars Program: genomic translational research and cancer-related
Training Workshops
Promote use of TRRCL resources by clinical and translational researchers in Puerto Rico
Cost Recovery System
Community Outreach Activities
Collaboration with Biospecimens Repositories

The TRRCL team will conduct regular needs assessment surveys to determine what technology, training, and/or instrumentation is needed by Alliance investigators to conduct their research.

Core Accomplishments

Our Services

About TRRCL

The Technologies and Resources for Research Core Laboratories (TRRCL) will address the IDeA-CTR core areas by providing research support facilities, training, access to research infrastructure in the Alliance institutions, and by facilitating access to research cores and technical support at other IDeA locations in the U.S. mainland. By using these NIH resources to leverage and strengthen CTR interactions in Puerto Rico, TRRCL will continue to contribute to increase diversity among the institutions and researchers conducting CTR in the US.

Active Projects TRRCL MSC

To see the list of TRRCL Active Projects click here

UPR-MSC Services and Equipment Available

SERVICES

Centrifuge
Prepare slides
Storage (room temperature, refrigerated, frozen)
Packing
Shipping (room temperature, dry ice)
Preservation of samples (with diluents, buffers, etc.)
Process serum samples for Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Process serum samples for Basic Metabolic Panel
Process serum samples for Lipid Panel
Process whole blood samples for HbA1c
Process whole blood samples for CBC (Complete Blood Count) and 5-part Differential
Process urine samples for Urinalysis
Process urine samples for Microalbumin
Process urine samples for Pregnancy Test

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE:

Vitros 250 (Routine Chemistry)
Hood
Microscope
Incubators
Refrigerators
Freezers
Water Baths
Clinitek 500 (Urinalysis)
DCA 2000+ (HbA1c and Microalbumin)
Refrigerated Centrifuges
Micro-centrifuge
AcT 5diff CP (Hematology)

Alliance Genomic Translational Research Unit (UPR-MSC)

Lab Technician

The Genomic Translational Research Unit (GTRU) is located within the Puerto Rico OMIC Center (PROMIC) at the UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center. GTRU serves clinical and translational researchers from the medical genetics faculty affiliated with the Newborn Screening Program at the UPR Pediatric Hospital, clinical faculty conducting research in cancer diagnostics and cancer treatment at the UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC), and UPR-MSC biomedical faculty conducting human genetics and pharmacogenomics research.

The GTRU resources have been combined with those of the RCMI Center for Genomics in Health Disparities and Rare Diseases and the PR-INBRE Core Resources and Facilities to provide more comprehensive resources and technologies.

SERVICES

DNA extraction and QC
RNA extraction, cDNA template preparation, and QC
Library Preparation for Sequencing, Templates preparation
DNA Sequencing Reactions (type of service: whole genome, whole exome, transcriptome (RNAseq), ChIPSeq, other)
Processing of raw data for subsequent bioinformatics analyses by investigator

Molecular Biology Core Laboratory (PMSF)

The Molecular Biology Core Laboratory at PMSF has include a research service for the acquisition of preliminary data by early stage investigators from all Alliance institutions, many of whom do not have assigned research space, start-up funds, or technical support.

SERVICES

Mammalian tissue culture,
Cell transfection/ transformation
DNA, RNA, and protein isolation
Cell cryostorage
Expert consultation in molecular biology experimental design. These services do not and will not overlap with RCM
Development of animal models for human diseases
Histology tissue in paraffin embedding

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

Gel and Blot Imaging Systems
Typhoon 7000 FLA, GE
Epi Chemi II Darkroom, UVP
Thermal Cycler and Q-PCR Systems
DNA Engine, BIO-RAD
DNA Engine DYAD, MJ Research
iCycler, BIO-RAD
Realplex2, Eppendorf
Eco, Illumina
Nucleic Acid and Protein
Quantification and Analysis
Biophotometer, Eppendorf
NanoDrop 2000, Thermo Sci.
Experion, BIO-RAD
Microscope and Cell Analysis
Cellometer K2, Nexcelom
Evos Fl, Life Technologies
BX60 microscope, Olympus
Multimode Plate Reader
Synergy HT, BioTek
Tissue and Sample Dissociators
gentleMACS Disruptor, Miltenyi
Bullet Blender Storm, Next Advance
Sonicator, Fisher
Histo Core
Microtome Leica
Centrifuge Refrigerated 1-20 celsius degree (1.5ml-50mL tubes), Eppendorf
Centrifuge (1.5ml tubes), Eppendorf
Nikon Confocal Microscope
DNA 120 SpeedVac Concentrator
Gene Pulser XCell Electroporation System, Bio-Rad
QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System
Shaker/Incubator, Barnstead
Sonic dismembrator, Fisher Scientific
Sorvall LYNK 6000, Thermo Scientific
Purelab System (Pure Water II)

Histopathology Core Laboratory (UCC)

The Histopathology Core Laboratory at UCC has been developed with Alliance funding, leveraging equipment and expertise already at UCC, providing standard and customized research-specific histology.

SERVICES

Paraffin embedding, sectioning, and preparation of frozen sections
Routine and special histological stains
Immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence
Coordinating the services of a consulting pathologist who analyze and interpret tissue sections of histopathology-related studies when necessary