Metabolism and Translational Science (RC2) Facilities

The Biochemistry of Aging and Metabolism and Translational Science Core Laboratory occupies approximately 1,500 sq. ft. of laboratory space. The Core supports biological analyses for a variety of clinical and pre-clinical projects related to the field of aging. The core includes a lab manager as well as several full-time technical staff capable of performing a variety of biologic techniques including western blotting, real-time PCR, immunosorbent assays, and a variety of procedures related to inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis.    Both facilities are under the direction of Dr. Leeuwenburgh and are located in the Medical Science Building.

COMPUTER:  Dr. Leeuwenburgh’s office and laboratories are equipped with 15 Dell computers, printers, and connections to the department and campus-wide networks are provided.

OFFICE:  The University of Florida provides office spaces for Dr. Leeuwenburgh in the Clinical Translational Research Building. There is also office space for graduate students, post-doctoral students, junior faculty, and technical support staff in the Medical Science Building.

OTHER:  The College has excellent computer and maintenance support. We have a full-time Division-Lab Manager, Lab Technician, and Research Scientists to support the project.

MAJOR EQUIPMENT:  Protein Simple Jess System for capillary Western immunoassays; Millipore MILLIPLEX® Analyzer 3.1 xPONENT System (multiplex assays); microplate readers (Molecular Devices Spectramax 340 plate reader; high-performance top and bottom reader Synergy™ HTX Multi-Mode Microplate Reader from Bio-Tek for absorbance measurements); Thermo Scientific™ NanoDrop™ One Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer; BioTek Instruments ELx405™ HT Microplate Washer – for 96-well; (accomodates biomagnetic seperation and vacuum filtration protocols along with conventional ELISAs); a microplate incubator; a TD-20/20 luminometer for ATP analysis; tissue homogenizing equipment; sonicator system; polytron system; electrophoresis equipment and film developer (Kodak); Bio-Rad Laboratories C1000 Touch™ Thermal Cycler with Dual 48/48 Fast Reaction Module; Bio-Rad Laboratories CFX96 Touch™ Real-Time PCR Detection System; 2 Bio-Rad Chemi Doc XRS+ high-resolution gel/blot imaging system; five respirometer systems: the Intech’s SYS203 oxygen sensor and 4 high resolution Oxygraph-2k (Oroboros) for tissue, cell and mitochondrial oxygen consumption measurments; Agilent Seahorse XFe396 Analyzer for measuring oxygen rate and proton efflux rate of live cells in 96-well format; BioTek Cytation 1 cell imaging multi-mode reader; a Beckman ultra-centrifuge; 3 Eppendorf high-speed refrigerated table top centrifuges and 3 microcentrifuges; 2 ultra-low freezers (-80oC); 3 standard freezers (-20oC); 4 refrigerators (0-5oC); 2 liquid nitrogen (-180oC) storage units; Class 2A Biological Safety Cabinet; CO2 Incubator (37oC); several incubators/shakers; several digital balances; an ice machine; a lyophilizer; a benchtop incubator; 3 water baths; water bath shaker; a drying oven; 3 analytical balances; 4 rockers/rotators; 3 pH meters; 2 water purification systems; a nitric oxide detection system.

CTSI Biorepository

The CTSI Biorepository collects biospecimens that can be used for research purposes by any investigator with IRB-approved protocols. The UF CRC Processing Laboratory assists with DNA extraction, and the UF Molecular Pathology Core provides histology and immunopathology services on remnant retrospective and prospective tissue samples. The Biorepository occupies 2000 sq ft of laboratory space equipped with (8) manual -80C ultra-low temp freezers, each with CO2 back-up and emergency backup power as well as sensaphone alarm systems and a Rees Scientific system to remotely monitor freezers and the environment on a 24/7 basis. It is also equipped with two Hamilton SAM systems, small volume robotic freezers with 28,000 sample capacity each, which have similar back-up and remote monitoring. The current capacity of the Biorepository is 500,000 samples, with a current inventory of ~20% capacity. All barcoded specimens are tracked using the OnCore Database. This facilitates inventory control as well as aids in the efficient and timely distribution of stored specimens to investigators for analyses.

The CTSI Biorepository follows strict Standard Operating Procedures that are based on the current best practice guidelines set forth by the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) and the Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research (OBBR), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CTSI Biorepository is one of the first 12 biorepositories in the country to receive CAP accreditation. The CTSI CRC processing laboratory is equipped with standard instrumentation for DNA extraction on remnant retrospective and prospective tissue samples.