The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) is home to various state-of-the-art research facilities. These research centers serve as hubs for collaboration, innovation, scientific discovery and advancing the future of health care.
UNR Med received Phase II funding of $11 million, for a second five-year installation of the grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) to study molecular and cellular signals regulating the cardiovascular system. This grant established Nevada's first cardiovascular-focused basic science center, supporting groundbreaking research in the field.
The Translational Research Center (TRC) has a research space of 1500 square feet located in the Center for Molecular Medicine, CMM 220. The TRC has a fully outfitted clinic space which includes three private outpatient rooms for research clinic visits, one blood draw station, and physician consultation areas. The TRC will also be supporting a biorepository, located in the Center for Molecular Medicine, CMM 105 suite. The biorepository will collect deidentified clinical specimens such as blood, urine, and FFPE tissue blocks for use in translational biomedical research, enabling investigators to explore human health.
TRC staff offer broad expertise in support of the University of Reno School of Medicine research enterprise, pilot funding opportunities, research opportunities for medical trainees and undergraduates, and research execution, as well as guidance on good clinical practice, research ethics, and protection of humans in research. With the affiliation between UNR Med and Renown Health, the TRC works closely with Renown Health’s Office of Clinical Research (OCR). The OCR provides clinical trial support, as well as clinical research coordinator support for research projects.
The Translational Research Center’s services include:
Research at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) is supported by institutional core facilities that offer advanced technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, valuable resources and faculty expertise to advance the development of groundbreaking research at UNR Med. These resources are available to faculty and researchers across the University and to external collaborators.
The Cell Analysis Core Facility (CACF) is a shared resources facility that offers analytical fluorescence-based flow cytometry and cell sorting. Featuring a full staff and laboratory facility, CACF’s mission is to facilitate scientific progress at UNR Med by providing researchers with state-of-the-art resources and support to advance their research.
The Biosafety Level 3 Lab (BSL-3) is designed for researchers studying infectious agents. This lab is only available to University faculty who have had their protocols reviewed by Institutional Biosafety Committee.
The Transgenic Animal Genotyping and Phenotyping Core (Core B) provides centralized services, consultation, training and technical support to advance transgenic animal genotyping and cardiovascular, metabolic and behavioral phenotyping research. By offering a range of techniques – including continuous blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, surface ECG, echocardiography, in vivo calcium imaging, metabolic assessment and behavioral testing – Core B supports the success of cardiovascular and metabolic research and the development of novel therapies. This shared resource collaborates with investigators to ensure access to critical tools and expertise that drive discovery.
The High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Imaging Core (HSTRI) performs state-of-the-art high spatial and temporal resolution imaging methodologies for studying cellular structure, signaling pathways and function in health and disease. Recent microscopy advances have produced a new generation of instruments and molecular tools that enable biomedical researchers to investigate the relationships between structure and function in biological systems with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. These modern technologies allow visualization of the ultrastructure of cells and how it impacts localized signaling pathways. HSTRI trains, educates and advises investigators in the use of these new technologies to maximize the Core's impact on cardiovascular research.
The Nevada Genomics Center is a state-of-the-art facility that is revolutionizing the study of genomes through advanced biomedical research. Located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, our fully-staffed facility is equipped with the latest technologies and instruments to serve both academic and industry researchers. A team of experts is available to support investigators at every stage of their research in the function and structure of genomes. Our services support a range of options and sequencing yield, from pilot projects to intensive, data-rich projects.
The Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Nevada Proteomics Center offers high quality mass spectral proteomic analysis using the latest technologies and techniques. We aim to make our services accessible to both public and private entities including research faculty, students and health care professionals. Our team provides insight into the physiological state of cells to expand research on immune response and underlying health conditions. Our goal is to assist investigators with qualitative and quantitative proteomic analysis to gain a greater understanding of physiological pathways, molecular interactions and regulatory signaling.