Research Labs
Research labs in the department are extremely well equipped for the individual research needs of faculty and students with instruments dedicated to their individual research needs.
Center for Epigenetics
Medical Science Building, M-345
The Center for Epigenetics (CEG) is organized to support, facilitate and enhance interdisciplinary research and training in the expanding field of epigenetics. A vital role of the CEG is to foster interactions and collaborations between UF researchers in various areas within and outside of the discipline of epigenetics. Major areas of research interest and activity by CEG members include gene regulation, cancer, chromatin structure, DNA methylation, histone modification, genomic imprinting, stem cell biology, gametogenesis, embryogenesis, DNA repair, viral genetics, nutrition, genomics, bioinformatics, etc. The CEG provides a variety of services and activities to UF researchers in epigenetics, including an epigenetics seminar series of distinguished outside speakers, and a weekly epigenetics research colloquium for the presentation and discussion of research progress by individual laboratory members. The Center also provides and maintains common items of equipment for daily use by CEG members as well as expertise in the latest experimental methodologies in epigenetics. These services, activities, and expertise all serve to advance the research and education missions of the UF College of Medicine in the rapidly evolving field of epigenetics.
Center for Structural Biology
McKnight Brain Institute
The Center for Structural Biology is a University Center in the College of Medicine with a mission to provide a framework for collaborative research among faculty addressing structural studies of significant biological problems and to foster advanced training of students in structural biology. The goal of the Center is to increase understanding of biological function through structural studies of large biological molecules, supra-molecular assemblies, and whole organisms. These studies are accomplished using advanced spectroscopic, diffraction, and imaging techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and X-ray crystallography). This information is related to cellular structure and function; then to the morphology and physiology of the whole organism.
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility
The Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (AMRIS) Facility, located in the Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, is a state-of-the-art NMR facility for high-resolution solution NMR, solid-state NMR, microimaging, animal imaging, and human imaging. There are currently nine spectrometer systems, including a 750 MHz wide bore, an 11 T/40 cm bore horizontal animal imaging magnet, and two 3T human systems. Five NMR magnet systems (500 and 600 MHz NMR spectrometers, 750 MHz wide bore spectrometer, and 4.7T/200 MHz and 11T/500 MHz MRI spectrometers) are available for high-resolution molecular structure determination and in vivo imaging and spectroscopy applications. The X-ray facility has a Rigaku generator, R-AXIS IV++ imaging plate system, osmic mirrors and an Oxford cryosystem cryostream.
Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research
Instrumentation and services available through core labs: A variety of instrumentation including 2D gel electrophoresis systems, a BiaCore surface plasmon resonance instrument, a real-time PCR instrument and a Molecular Dynamics Typhoon Phosphorimager are available for use. In addition the core labs offer a variety of services including peptide/protein sequencing, protein identification by MALDI TOF and ESI mass spectrometry, peptide synthesis, DNA sequencing, microarray analysis, electron microscopy, and monoclonal antibody preparation. Workshops on new technologies are routinely offered through the core facilities.
Powell Gene Therapy Center (PGTC)
The Powell Gene Therapy Center (PGTC) at the University of Florida has been instrumental in the development of newer, safer agents for the delivery of therapeutic genes to patients with genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AAT-D).