Basic Science Research Enhancement Core

The Basic Science Research Enhancement Core facilitates research conducted by basic science investigators within the Research Base. Specifically, this Core aims to promote access to instrumentation and technical expertise not found within the individual’s laboratory that would accelerate and refine an investigators work, or that would allow the investigator to ask questions that would not otherwise be accessible.

For this purpose we will use four established institutional cores at the University of Michigan, and that — based on a survey of past behavior and future needs — will be well utilized by Center investigators. These cores include a cDNA microarray core, a transgenic rodent core, a microscopy core, and a viral vector core. Each core is a well managed, state of the art facility that provides carefully maintained instrumentation, technical expertise, and professional consultations. Because these cores are subsidized by the University and because of efficiencies of scale created by distributing costs among many users, services are provided at remarkably competitive cost to the investigator. In addition, to promote access to these institutional cores, the Renal Enhancement Core will provide approximately a 50% subsidy to Center members to further reduce the cost of using core services.

Further, this Core will maintain unique rodent model colonies created at the University of Michigan for distribution upon request to an international community of investigators, and will support consultative services by a renal pathologist.