Bioanalytical, Cardiometabolic Phenotyping, Imaging and Histology Core

CORE B – BIOANALYTICAL, CARDIOMETABOLIC PHENOTYPING, IMAGING AND HISTOLOGY CORE PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Cardiorenal and Metabolic Diseases Research Center (CMDRC) was established to enhance research infrastructure and provide mentoring to increase the ability of CMDRC investigators to successfully compete for

independent NIH funding. The Bioanalytical, Cardiometabolic Phenotyping, Imaging and Histology Sub-Cores were established during Phases 1 and 2 to serve as a resource for the CMDRC, and Core B has had a transformative effect on COBRE Junior Investigators and Pilot Grant investigators, and other users of Core B.

During Phase 1 and Phase 2 of COBRE support, Core B established consolidated, highly specialized services and state-of-the-art resources critical to cardiorenal and metabolic diseases researchers; technologies and services that would otherwise not be available to individual investigators. Core B is staffed by professional

personnel who are not only capable of performing a variety of essential research services, but are also able to provide training and assist in the development of new research methods to meet the changing needs of COBRE investigators. Core B has multiple components that include: the Bioanalytical Sub-Core that provides centralized

radioimmunoassay (RIA), ELISA, and other chemistry analyses; the Cardiometabolic Phenotyping Sub-Core that provides centrally located, state-of-the-art, highly specialized in vivo phenotypical testing to characterize physiological and behavioral parameters in genetic and pharmacological research models of obesity,

cardiovascular and metabolic disease; and the Imaging and Histology Sub-Cores that provide access to state- of–the-art imaging equipment as well as histology, immunohistochemistry, and other key services. Over 88 investigators from 18 basic science and clinical departments at UMMC and 11 researchers from 8 other

institutions including Jackson State University, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), used Core B services and resources. Usage of Core B facilitated the generation of >260 publications and the funding of 135 extramural grants from NIH and other non-profit funding agencies. Establishment of Core B as a Fee-for

Service Recharge Center initiated our Business Plan for our Model for Sustainability. The incorporation of Centralized Billing and initiation of an Online Core Management System coupled to the commitment by UMMC for continued support for capital maintenance and updates for capital equipment, and the significant increase in

independent extramural funding by users of Core B that established our Research Pool will ensure long-term sustainability. Core B will continue to build upon our success so we can provide continuous support for existing infrastructure and expand Core offerings.