Facilities

The University of Iowa has the following facilities and centers to support research by students and faculty members of the MCBP.

The majority of the student and faculty members of the MCBP are housed in the Bowen Science Building (BSB). The lab space within the building is currently being renovated. Other faculty are housed in the Eckstein Medical Research Building (EMRB), Medical Education and Biomedical Research Facility (MERF), Veteran Affairs Laboratories, and the Biology Building.

Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Facility. This facility is located on the Oakdale campus of the University of Iowa and is under the direction of Dr. Jack Rosazza. The facility has the capability for large scale bacteria or mammalian cell culturing. Large quantities of a specific bacteria or mammalian cell can be produced for enzyme or protein purification, etc. The facility is particularly useful for producing proteins of interest for crystallization studies.

Cell Motility Center. Under the direction of Dr. David Soll, who was instrumental in the development of computer monitored cell image and motion analysis, this facility assist researchers in cell movement and chemo-attractant research.

Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The CBCB is a high-performance computational and informational resource uniquely designed to help researchers learn about the genetic basis of human disease and other biomedical phenomena. The center has state of the art computational capabilities and staff computational scientists to aid University researchers.

Central Microscopy Research Facility. The University of Iowa has a state-of-the- art microscopy facility for scanning and transmission electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, freeze-fracture and X-ray microanalysis and ultramicrotomy. Supported by the University and a fee for service, the core provides outstanding technical training and service for students and faculty.

DNA Facility. Under the supervision of Kevin Knudtson, the DNA facility is housed in the EMRB. This facility provides reagents for DNA modification and synthesis and special reagents like primers, vectors, phage, nucleic acid ladders, etc. The facility provides services to order oligonucleotides, Molecular Biology computing, DNA microarrays and "real-time" PCR.

Flow Cytometry Facility. The Facility provides scientific and technical personnel who are available for consultation in designing experimental protocols. In addition to identification and isolation of various cell populations using antibodies, flow cytometry can analyze cell proliferation response to drugs or treatments, cell physiological properties, DNA content and integrity; and chromosomes.

Gene Transfer Vector Core Facility. Under the supervision of MCBP member Dr. Beverly Davidson and housed in the EMRB, this facility prepares viral vectors for gene therapy and experimentation. The facility has expertise in the preparation of adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and retrovirus vectors. The staff are very helpful in assisting students and faculty in preparing their own viral vectors.

Information Technology Services. This facility provides computer technical and software support. Students and faculty have connections via ethernet to other labs and facilities.

Keck Dynamic Image Analysis Facility. This facility has a state-of-the-art image analysis and processing system for digitization, analysis and modeling.

Tissue Culture/Hybridoma Core. Under the direction of Dr. David Soll and funded by NICHD, the facility offers assistance in immunization protocols and monoclonal antibody production and screening; and maintains a national repository for hybridomas.

Transgenic Animal Facility. Under the direction of MCBP member Dr. Curt Sigmund, this facility provides assistance in transgenic animal development using both pro-nuclear injection and embryonic stem cell technology.

Other On-campus Facilities and Programs. The following facilities are available to support specialized experimentation by MCBP students and faculty: Electron Spin Resonance, High Resolution Mass Spectometry, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.