Neuroscience Methodologies Core

The primary objective of the Neuroscience Methodologies Core is to advance Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities-relevant neuroscience research within the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center of Excellence.

The Core has two principal components: Genomics and Mass Spectrometry

Genomics helps our investigators to study the role of individual genes or to screen libraries and identify novel genes. As is always the case, just making equipment available is not enough. Facilities are directed by individuals with demonstrated expertise in these specialized areas. The Genomics Core consists of two subcomponents:

It consists of two subcomponents, each directed by an individual with demonstrated expertise in one or more relevant specialty areas:

• Gene Chips and Microarray, which provides expertise in the application of Affymetrics chips to identify changes in gene expression.
• RNAi Core Facility, which supplies shRNA clones to silence target genes. The shRNAs are available as plasmids, retroviruses, lentiviruses or screenable libraries.

Mass Spectrometry provides a highly flexible methodology for a variety of neuroscience applications, such as identifying sequences in complex mixtures of proteins and characterizing the multiple forms of protein post-translational modifications.

Neuroscience Methodologies Staffing