BU has many facilities on the Medical Campus and Charles River Campus that provide services, expertise, and instruments for high-quality research. Some labs are specific to their supporting groups; most are available on a fee-for-service basis to researchers both inside and outside the University.
CRC Campus Cores
Animal Science Center CRC Facility
The Animal Science Center CRC Facility oversees veterinary medical care, animal care services, and actively participates in all facility design.
The Biomedical Optics Laboratory conducts research to develop minimally-invasive diagnostics and therapeutics based on optical and photonic technologies.
The BME Core Facilities’ goal is to support state of the art research and teaching endeavors in Biomedical Engineering.
Center for Computational Science
The Center for Computational Science connects computational scientists from different areas, enabling the cross-fertilization of new computational ideas and methodologies.
The Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD) is an integrated infrastructure for the discovery of new small molecule chemical probes, therapeutic leads, and therapeutic target pathways.
The DAMP Lab designs, builds, and tests novel biological systems in a fast, standard, cost effective, and reproducible manner. We do this by using a globally-integrated infrastructure of standard protocols and experimental practices. We employ a ‘bio-foundry’ philosophy where automated services are available to remote users and then scheduled and managed using computational methods and a mix of automated hardware and expert technicians. The available molecular biology protocols include DNA assembly, purification, sequencing, repository, PCR, cell transformation, and readout characterization assays.
The Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) conducts applied research and development leading to the deployment of technological solutions that enhance the productivity and competitive position of our customers, while educating engineering students in the process.
The Geddes Language Center supports the teaching and learning of languages, literatures, cultures, and film as faculty introduce new learning modalities and resources, in the classroom and online.
The Micro-CT Imaging Facility uses experimental and computational methods to explore the relationships between the structure and mechanical function of skeletal tissues at multiple length scales.
See an overview of services or visit the full Micro-CT Imaging Facility site for complete details.
Photonics Center Shared Facilities
The Boston University Photonics Center’s multi-user facilities are open to the entire university and outside users who engage in Shared Laboratory Usage Agreements. The facilities include semiconductor fabrication, testing and measurement, spectroscopy, electron, and atomic force microscopy equipment for varied disciplines in materials science, engineering, life sciences, and medical applications.
The Proteomics & Imaging Core Facility (PICF) is a multi-user core facility that is part of the Biology Department, but serves the entire University’s genomics, proteomics, and imaging needs.
Boston University’s Scientific Instrument Facility (SIF) is dedicated to providing high quality, cost effective hardware to Boston’s research community.
Biospecimen Archive Research Core (BARC) is an IRB-approved, fee-for-service archive of biospecimens obtained from Boston Medical Center patients who have given informed consent for experimentation on any extraneous normal or abnormal specimens removed during medical procedures at the hospital.
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC)
The Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC) has been a data management resource center since 1984. The BEDAC assists with questionnaire and data collection form design; implementation of study protocols; data management; data entry; and statistical, database, and web-based programming.
Cellular Imaging Core
The Cellular Imaging Core (CIC) is an optical microscopy core facility with a range of digital imaging microscopy systems for studying cells and tissues.
Clinical Data Warehouse for Research
The Clinical Data Warehouse brings together BMC data into a single data warehouse. Investigators with IRB and HIPPA approval can cross-reference data, get patient counts, and search text files.
Clinical Translational Epidemiology and Comparative Effectiveness Research (TEC Center)
The Confocal Microscope Facility provides confocal microscopy services for imaging cells and tissue, as well as assistance with project/experiment planning and analysis.
Developer Core
The Department of Microbiology’s Developer Core offers BU investigators the use of a Konica-Minolta SRX-101A developer for film development for radioactivity or chemiluminescence-based protein detection.
Experimental Pathology Laboratory Service
The Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has initiated a fee-for-service Experimental Pathology Laboratory Service core for tissue processing-dissection services, microscopy, image analysis, and consult services.
FHS Service Center
The Framingham Heart Study, under the direction of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), formerly known as the National Heart Institute, has been committed to identifying the common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have followed CVD development over a long period of time in three generations of participants. The FHS Service Center assists in this contribution.
Flow Cytometry Core Facility
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility provides flow cytometry services for analysis and sorting of cells as well as expert consultation for project/experiment planning.
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Core Facility
The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Core is a qualified facility for developing and processing clinical-grade stem cells from adult tissues for use in clinical trials and potential therapeutic applications.
The Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) Core aims to expedite the use of iPSC technology. The core generates and characterizes iPSC lines from adult tissue samples, serves as a repository to conduct basic and translational research, and provides expertise on work involving human iPSCs.
Infrared Imaging Core
The Infrared Imaging Core was formed to give investigators access to the LiCor Odyssey CLx, an infrared imaging system for quantitative Western Blot analysis.
IVIS Imaging Core
The primary use of the IVIS Imaging Core instrumentation is to non-invasively monitor bio-luminescence and fluorescence in three dimensions within small animal models.
Metabolic Phenotyping Core
Metabolic Phenotyping Core (MPC) provides experimental testing services to researchers (inside and outside Boston University) studying metabolic diseases in mouse models.
The Molecular Genetics Core provides DNA isolation services from different sources, sample storage, whole genome amplification, and high throughput genotyping.
Mouse Assisted Reproductive Technology (MART)
The Mouse Assisted Reproductive Technology (MART) oversees the breeding of complex genetically modified mice as well as collecting mouse sperm, harvesting unfertilized eggs, conducting in-vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation.
MRI Scanning Cores
Boston University School of Medicine has three Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners dedicated for research use available to meet the needs of researchers throughout the Greater Boston Area.
This core facility provides advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging capabilities for researchers working with mice or tissue samples on the Medical Campus and beyond.
This core facility provides advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging capabilities for researchers working with mice or tissue samples on the Medical Campus and beyond.
The Optical Microscopy Cell and Tissue Imaging Cores at the Boston University Medical campus offer comprehensive, cutting-edge technology and support for a wide range of digital imaging microscopy applications.
Proteomics Consultation Service
Proteomics Consultation Service provides consult on all proteomics and mass spectrometry applications and will assist in experimental design, sample fractionation and preparation, sample submission, and data analysis.
Single Cell Sequencing Core
The Single Cell Sequencing Core provides in-house services for single cell RNA sequencing to all researchers at Boston University and to external researchers on an available-resource basis. As a high-throughput core, we provide an array of services to get you from sample to high-quality single cell gene expression data and analysis.
Slone Service Center
The Slone Service Center has extensive experience working with academic departments and research programs to design intuitive and easy to use data collection forms and online data collection tools. In addition, we can help with printing and distribution of forms, tracking your data collection effort, scanning completed forms, abstracting your data, delivering or hosting your final datasets, as well as providing summary reporting on your data.