Centralized Research Instrumentation Core (CRI)

The overall goal of the PR-INBRE Centralized Research Instrumentation (CRI) Cores is to integrate and empower Faculty investigators, students, and postdocs from the Lead, Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), and Outreach Institutions by providing mentorship and scientific support. The PR-INBRE CRI will incorporate core facilities supported by PR-INBRE and other collaborating facilities supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) infrastructure programs, and with UPR institutional funds. Several of these core facilities have been operating with M.S. and Ph.D.-level experienced technicians and committed scientific staff. The following facilities will participate in the proposed CRI in the next cycle: the Human Genetics and Genomics Core Lab at UPR-MSC; the Metabolomics Core at UPR- MSC; the Sequencing and Genomics Facility at UPR-Rio Piedras; the ChEMTox Biotesting Core at Universidad Ana G.

Mendez Cupey Campus; and the Translational Proteomics Center at the UPR-Comprehensive Cancer Center. Their efforts support local and national collaborations. To fulfill the overall goal of this Core, the following specific aims are proposed: 1) Continue to provide access to state-of-the-art core research instrumentation for nurturing new research projects and expanding established research collaborations between the CRI investigators, students, and postdocs from Puerto Rico and other IDeA states. 2) Ensure the effective dissemination of technologies offered by the CRI Cores via theoretical and practical workshops, mentoring researchers in experimental design, data analysis, and best practices in the use of the resources available at the CRI Cores. 3) Collaborate with other INBRE and COBRE Core labs to expand access for PR-INBRE investigators to innovative technologies available at other IDeA cores and provide opportunities for professional development of technical and scientific staff by supporting attendance at professional meetings such as the Association of Biomedical Research Facilities (ABRF) and other training opportunities. To assist in the development of an interdisciplinary research effort at the PR-INBRE network institutions, the CRI will provide specialized services such as: direct technical consultation on experimental design, data generation, and analysis in genetics and genomics in human and small animal model systems, proteomics, metabolomics, and biological testing of experimental compounds in bacteria and tissue culture cells.

Grant Number: 5P20GM103475-23
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: CARMEN CADILLA