Research Cores

The BERD Unit provides consultation and data analysis to help investigators produce scientifically rigorous, reproducible, and publishable research. The unit combines experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, biomedical informatics, community engagement and molecular informatics. LEARN MORE>>

This fee-for-service facility offers the Nanostring nCounter system for highly sensitive, reproducible, multiplexed gene expression analysis. The platform directly labels mRNAs and miRNAs with molecular barcodes — no reverse transcription or amplification required — and works with total RNA from any source, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. LEARN MORE >>

Imaging Center

• Transmission Electron Microscopy
• Confocal Microscopy
• 3-Dimensional Neuron Tracing and Mapping
• Conventional Light Microscopy Applications
• Tissue Preparation

Behavioral Core

MiFC offers a unique platform for exploring mitochondrial function and fostering collaboration in metabolic and mitochondrial disease research. Using high-resolution respirometry, it delivers accurate, sensitive analysis of respiratory capacity across a range of biological samples — including isolated mitochondria, live and permeabilized cells, and permeabilized tissue (heart, kidney, brain, liver, fat, and skeletal muscle). LEARN MORE >>

Offers Biorepository and Whole Slide Imaging services to UT Health Sciences investigators. The Biorepository collects and stores tissues not needed for routine diagnosis, processing them in a structured manner for research use. Tissues can be stored as fresh frozen, formalin-fixed, or paraffin-embedded blocks. LEARN MORE >>

The UT Health Science Center Institutional Research Cores Facilities and Other Resources Information document provide boilerplate language to use in grant applications.

Name the specific institutional research core facility used in the scope of your research, and clearly state how the core contributed to the research. For example, “All flow cytometry and flow sorting data were generated in the Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting core (FCCS) at the UT Health Science Center with the assistance of Dr. Elizabeth Fitzpatrick.”

NOTE:  The Molecular Resource Center (MRC) is supported by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as a Center of Excellence. Acknowledgments should be written in this format: “All next-generation sequencing data were generated in the Molecular Resource Center of Excellence at The UT Health Science Center with the assistance of Dr. Daniel Johnson.”

Institutional research core lab personnel provide critical services and offer expertise in technologies and services that drive research progress. Core users should review the authorship guidelines from the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF).

When the shared resource is intellectually involved in the proposal experimental design and/orwriting, or when the director/staff will be expected to provide expert evaluation, troubleshooting or analysis of data generated in the core during the course of project, the director or staff member should be included in the proposal’s budget, and the Office of Research included on the routing form. 

Note: Removal of institutional core lab personnel from awarded applications should be discussed in advance with the Office of Research.