Research Resources & Facilities

In addition to resources available in mentors’ laboratories, Fellows have full access to the outstanding shared resources at MD Anderson and Rice.

Institutional Shared Resources

• Bioinformatics and Statistics - Smithville
• Biospecimen Extraction Facility
• Bone Histomorphometry Core Laboratory
• Characterized Cell Line Core Facility
• DNA Methylation Analysis Core
• e-Health Technology
• Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Core
• Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Core - Smithville
• Functional Proteomics RPPA Core Facility
• Genetically Engineered Mouse Facility
• Gynecologic Cancer Tissue Bank
• High Resolution Electron Microscopy Facility
• Immunology Optical Microscopy Laboratory
• Laboratory Animal Genetic Services - Smithville
• Molecular Biology Core - Smithville
• Molecular Cytogenetics Facility
• Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory

Shared Equipment Authority

• 3D Printer: Full color 3D printer
• ARES G2 Rheometer
• BET: Quantachrome Autosorb-3b BET Surface Analyzer
• Centrifuge: BC Avanti J-E
• Centrifuge: BC Avanti J-HC
• Centrifuge: BC Optima L-80XP Ultracentrifuge
• Centrifuge: BC Optima L-90K Ultracentrifuge
• Centrifuge: BC XL-A Analytical Ultracentrifuge
• Centrifuge: Sorvall Ultracentrifuge 100SE
• Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectropolarimeter
• Costech Elemental Combustion System
• Excella E25 Incubator Shaker A
• FACSCanto II Flow Cytometer
• Imaging Software: Bitplane Imaris 3D/4D Image Processing
• Imaging Software: NIS Element PC Off-line
• LAS 4000 ImagerLaser cutter: Universal X-660 Laser Cutter Platform
• LS6500 Scintillation Counter
• Mech testing: Ultra Nanoindention Tester
• Microscope: AFM North -- Bruker Multimode 8
• Microscope: FEI Helios SEM/FIB
• Microscope: FEI Quanta 400 ESEM FEG
• Microscope: FEI Titan Themis3
• Microscope: JEOL 1230 High Contrast Transmission Electron Microscope
• Microscope: JEOL 2010 Transmission Electron Microscope
• Microscope: JEOL 2010 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) with Cryo
• Microscope: JEOL 2100 Field Emission Gun Transmission Electron Microscope
• Microscope: JEOL 6500F Scanning Electron Microscope
• Microscope: Nicolet FTIR Infrared Microscope
• Microscope: Nikon A1-Rsi Confocal
• Microscope: Polarizing Optical Microscope
• Microscope: Raman Microscope
• Microscope: Zeiss Axioimager Z2
• Microscope: Zeiss Axioplan2
• Microscope: Zeiss Axioskop
• Microscope: Zeiss LSM 710 Confocal
• MS: Bruker Autoflex MALDI ToF
• MS: Bruker MicroToF ESI LC-MS System
• MS: Perkin Elmer Inductively Couples Plasma Mass Spectrometer
• MS: Perkin Elmer Nexion 300 ICP-MS
• MS: Perkin Elmer Optima 8300 ICP-OES
• MS: PerkinElmer Inductively Couples Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer
• MS: Shimadzu IT-ToF LC-MS System
• MS: Thermo LTQ-Orbitrap
• Nanodrop 2000 UV-vis Spectrophotometer
• Nanofab Characterization Room: Dicing Saw
• Nanofab Characterization Room: Ellipsometer (Filmetrics)
• Nanofab Characterization Room: Ellipsometer (Horiba)
• Nanofab Characterization Room: Flip-Chip Die Bonder (Fineplacer Lambda)

The Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF)

The SAIF, begun in 2001 with the installation of a Bruker 4.7T/40 cm MR system, now includes a second MR system (Bruker 7.0T/30 cm), a GE/EVS micro-CT system, a GE flat-panel volume CT system, a Siemens M.Cam system (with SPECT capabilities), a Concorde Microsystems R4 micro-PET system, a GE Specimen CT scanner with autoloader, a faxitron, and a Vevo 660 high resolution ultrasound imaging system. The SAIF also has access to a 1.5T GE EchoSpeed research MR scanner and a GE multislice research CT scanner for studies involving larger animals.

Many of the program faculty members, and other significant contributors, are major users of this facility, and some of the trainees sponsored by the training grant are expected to heavily use this rare and highly valuable resource. In addition to modern imaging, this facility provides the necessary support for animal handling, tissue harvesting, etc.