Science Core

The Autophagy, Inflammation, and Metabolism (AIM) center Scientific Core (ASC) provides
state of the art technology with high content microscopy as its centerpiece, expert services,
training to mentored PIs (mPIs) and other AIM members and users in general, in support of
fundamental and disease-related studies of autophagy, inflammation and metabolism. In Phase
I, the ASC played a crucial role in mPIs competing for independent funding, with all mPIs in the
initial cohort obtaining their R01s and graduating with full success. The ASC developed a
significant interdisciplinary user base thematically related to AIM’s continuum of research,
leading to impactful publications, collaborations, grants including multiple funded R01s, and
other significant projects. The ASC has expanded the impact of the AIM Center at the University
of New Mexico Health Science Center (UNM HSC), in our state, nationally, and worldwide.
In Phase II, the ASC will further strengthen the research impact of the AIM Center and
contribute to its pillars of sustainability, which include ASC’s own sustainability, critical mass of
investigators, institutional support, and programmatic grants. The first major goal of the ASC in
Phase II is to provide key instrumentation and technical expertise to Phase II mPIs, enabling
their graduation. A second goal is to build research capacity related to autophagy, inflammation,
and metabolism, and to build a critical mass of funded investigators at all career levels to
sustain future core facility operations and contribute to the sustainability of the center as a
whole. The ASC will offer expert advice to educate and assist users with the latest technologies.
ASC will acquire, update, and develop equipment and assays after receiving feedback from
mPIs, AIM-affiliated users, and internal and external advisory committee members to maximize
the ASC’s capabilities. Central to the overall success of the AIM Center, the ASC will facilitate
interdisciplinary research performed by mPIs and all AIM Center investigators. The ASC will
accomplish its goals through the following specific aims:
1. Enable Phase II mPIs to study autophagy, metabolism and inflammation.
2. Support and expand the user base by providing expert service, training, collaboration, and
dissemination of new technologies, focused on building a critical mass of researchers.
3. Build a path to long-term sustainability through the development of a fee structure and
outreach to new users within the institution, state, and region.

Grant Number: 5P20GM121176-09
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Judy Cannon