Cores

Materials Synthesis, Characterization and Testing Core

Dr. Robert Latour, Director
Dr. Martine Laberge, Co-Director
Dr. Gulya Korneva, Research Asst, Lab Manager
Dr. Andrew Metters, Co-Investigator
Dr. Douglas E. Hirt, Consultant

The Materials Synthesis, Characterization and Testing Core supports the characterization and analysis of biomaterials and implants developed by SCBioMat researchers, from the nanoscale to the microscale. The core consists of three areas of primary focus, or thrusts:

Thrust I: Design and Synthesis of Materials
Thrust II: Chemical and Surface Characterization
Thrust III: Mechanical Testing

Cell and Molecular Engineering Core

Dr. Rick Visconti, Director
Dr. Stanley Hoffman, Co-Director
Dr. Shibnath Ghatak, Investigator
Dr. Michael Kern, Investigator

The Cell and Molecular Engineering Core at MUSC provides resources and expertise for project investigators, enabling them to extend their research efforts in tissue bioengineering and permitting them to participate in an emerging field that is likely to change the way regenerative medicine research is practiced in the future.

Dr. Visconti is the director of this core. He is well trained in stem cell technology by a world leader in stem cell biology, Dr. Makio Ogawa. Dr. Kern is responsible for the “molecular toolkit," which includes the ability to create gene silencing vectors and to analyze gene and protein expression including preparation of polyclonal antibodies. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Director of the core responsible for antibody production and proteomics. He has extensive experience in these areas. In particular, he has prepared dozens of antibodies in his career, many of these as part of collaborations for which he was recruited due to his expertise and his reputation for producing strong, well-validated antibodies in large quantity. Dr. Shibnath Ghatak, an expert in preparing viral vectors to deliver genes or shRNA, has 12 years of experience in developing culture cell lines or primary cultures. He extended his vector technology to include nanotechnological approaches for delivering hairpin RNA or full-length cDNAs. Dr. Ghatak will also contribute to the molecular core by adding expertise in signaling transduction.

Through this core, researchers have access to hands-on training and tutorials in procedures to isolate, clone, store, and culture primary cells and established cell lines.

Histology and Imaging Core

Dr. JoAn Hudson, Director
Dr. Terri Bruce, Co-Director
Dr. Naren Vyavahare, Co-Director
Linda Jenkins, Investigator
Dr. Robert Price, Consultant
Dr. Thomas Trusk, Consultant

The Histology and Imaging Core provides access to state-of-the-art tools and techniques required for the visualization, manipulation, and molecular characterization of cells, tissues, and biomaterials. This core provides investigators the routine histology and imaging services they need on campus. Imaging facilities at all three institutions work together to support target investigators.