Resources
Core Facilities COVID-19 Updates
Many of our core facilities are working with reduced staff and hours at this time. Some have stopped operations. As each core has different challenges, you should reach out to each core’s technical director for direction on how to complete projects in progress and ramp down your research. If you have COVID-19-related projects for a core, please contact the Technical Director directly so that we may prioritize your work.
Below you will find Technical Director contact information for each core facility, along with a short description of each facility’s current status. We will keep the status information as up-to-date as possible, but communication directly with the core is the best strategy for your specific research needs.
Invoice payments will still be processed by the finance team through DDs or Credit Card. Contact information can be found at the bottom of your invoice. If payment was mailed via check, processing will be delayed until the finance team returns to the office. For updates on BSD resources and communications related to COVID-19, please visit this web page.
Comments & Suggestions Box
If you would like to offer comments or suggestions on how OSRF could better support your research at this time, please follow this link.
Next-Gen and Micro-Array Sequencing
The core is currently working with reduced staffing. Users should contact Pieter Faber at pfaber@bsd.uchicago.edu and genomics@bsd.uchicago.edu for specific questions. Twitter: @UChicagoGenomic
The core is open with reduced hours. Please contact DNACore@DNAServer.uchicago.edu for more information and assistance.
The core is currently closed. If you have any questions or concerns, or need the core for COVID-19 work, please contact Elena Solomaha at efilippo@bsd.uchicago.edu
The core is currently working with reduced staffing. Users should contact Siquan Chen at schen1@bsd.uchicago.edu for project specific questions.
Open for trained users with key card access only and only multi-day experiments will be scheduled
All trainings cancelled until further notice.
For questions, please contact Joe Sachleben at jsachleben@uchicago.edu
Human Tissue Resource Center (HTRC)
The HTRC will begin accepting histology requests on Monday, May 4, that are related to eligibility or enrollment in cancer clinical trials. Other HTRC-related services, including biobanking, non-clinical trial histology, and sign-ups for cryostats and LCM use, are still on-hold until further notice.
For specific questions, or to process COVID-19 samples, please reach out to Dr. Lingen by email at mark.lingen@uchospitals.edu.
Cellular and Tissue Based Processing cGMP Facility
Please contact Diane Ostrega at dostrega@bsd.uchicago.edu for specific questions.
Human Immunological Monitoring (HIM)
Core is open until further notice.
For questions, please contact Yuanyuan Zha at yzha1@bsd.uchicago.edu
Human Imaging Research Office (HIRO)
As much work as possible is being done remotely and one staff member will be on-campus to handle any work that needs to be done in-person. Discussions and consultations with research teams can be conducted via Zoom teleconference as needed, but the initiation of new research projects is discouraged (with some exceptions).
For questions, please contact Nick Gruszauskas at ngruszauskas@bsd.uchicago.edu Twitter: @HIRO_UofC
Pharmacology - Analytical and Biofluids
Biofluids will reopen on Monday, May 4. Operating hours are 8 am - 4 pm until further notice.
Analytical Unit is closed until further notice.
Contact Jackie Ramirez at jramirez@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu for specific questions.
Advanced Electron Microscopy: Cryopreservation and Tomography
The core is currently closed. It is still available for COVID-19 projects. Please contact Joe Austin at joe.austin.em@gmail.com for more information.
Cytometry and Antibody Technology
Please find current updates from the Technical Director here:https://voices.uchicago.edu/ucflow/message-from-the-technical-director/
Send email requests and inquiries to: CATHelp@bsd.uchicago.edu Twitter: @cat_uoc
The core is open for experienced users as long as permitted. Adherence to the core’s disinfecting policies is required.
A work-from-home resources page with how to get remote access to our image processing software and a rolling list of webinars and virtual classes may be found here: https://voices.uchicago.edu/confocal/image-processing/wfh/
For questions, please contact Vytas Bindokas at vbindoka@bsd.uchicago.edu
Integrated Small Animal Imaging Research Resource
On-site equipment training of personnel has been suspended since access to the facility requires ARC training which they have suspended at this time.
New imaging sessions, not including optical imaging, will not be scheduled until further notice but requests can be submitted via the scheduler.
For questions, please reach out to Brian Roman at broman@uchicago.edu
Please see ARC COVID-19 updates here: https://voices.uchicago.edu/animalresources/basic-page/contingency/
We are planning to continue to produce food each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as long as we can and will be providing as much stock as possible. We would ask that you only take as much food as you need at this time to avoid any shortages.
If you have a specific amount you will need other than what was taken, please e-mail Derrick Summerville at dsummer@bsd.uchicago.edu
Starting Friday, March 20, all new projects will be postponed until further notice. Those in progress will be maintained, tails samples, weanings and separations will be done as needed.
Molecular and ES Cell targeting projects will be halted at the current state until further notice.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Degenstein at ldeg@uchicago.edu
Engneering + Technical Support Group
MRSEC Materials Prep & Measurement Lab
Core is closed at least until May 4. Any questions may be sent to Justin Jureller at jureller@uchicago.edu
Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility (PNF)
Office of Shared Research Facilities
The Office of Shared Research Facilities (OSRF) manages BSD Core Facilities by providing financial, administrative, IT, and communication support. OSRF works closely with The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Research Resources Oversight Committee.
Twitter: @UChicagoOSRF
Quick Links
George Langan, DVM, DACLAM
Associate Dean for Research Resources
Research Resources Oversight Committee
The Research Resources Oversight Committee (RROC) of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) serves as an advisory body, which in partnership with the Office of Shared Research Facilities (OSRF) establishes a policy framework for the operation of core facilities, reviews and prioritizes acquisition of major scientific equipment for the division, and provides scientific expertise and strategic planning for institutional research resources.