OHSU Core service centers

Core Service Profile Overview Sheet

Advanced Computing Center - Consulting, research storage, application hosting, support for research computing systems.
Service Profile

Advanced Imaging Research Center - Specializes in generating novel Magnetic Resonance techniques and technologies for the advancement of biomedical research. The AIRC provides services in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), data processing specific to MR data, and a computing cluster for MR specific data storage and analysis.  MR instruments include 3T, 7T, and 11.7T MRI.

Advanced Light Microscopy Core - Access to and education on the use of advanced instrumentation for fluorescence microscopy in cells, tissues, and animals.
Service Profile

Bioanalytical/Pharmacokinetics - Support and consultation for the analysis of small molecules using state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS, GC/MS, or HPLC instrumentation. 
Service Profile

Biophysics Core - Provide unimpeded access to state-of-the-art and well-maintained biophysics equipment, integral to the research community at OHSU. 

Bioinformatics - Experimental Design and Analysis support for high dimensional data 
(e.g., RNA-seq, DNA-seq, ChIP-seq, CyTOF, etc). Data stewardship, management, and dissemination support.

Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Core (BBC) at ONPRC - Supports all types of biostatistics and primarily DNA/RNA-sequencing-related bioinformatics. Provides analysis, study design, advising, and grant support.
Service Profile

BioLibrary - Fresh, frozen, OCT, FFPE tissues and blood derivatives; prospective whole blood collection; PI-driven consenting of patients; digital slide imaging.

Biomaterials and Biomechanics - Biomaterials manufacturing and testing (mechanical, spectroscopy, imaging), with a focus in polymers. Custom  synthesis (small molecules, oligomers, fluorophores) and characterization.

Biostatistics & Design Program - Statistical guidance, analysis, and study design for proposal development, grant submissions and research projects including: data management, statistical programming, report preparation, and assistance with manuscripts.
Service Profile

Center for Radiochemistry Research - Radiosynthesis and quality assurance of radiolabeled molecules for imaging and bench top use, consulting on appropriate radiopharmaceuticals and their use in experiments, preparations of INDs for radiopharmaceutical use in humans.

Clinical and Translational Research Core Services - Study Coordination, Education, and Career development, Biostatistics, Biomedical Informatics, Investigator Support and Integration, Community and Practice Research Funding.

Elemental Analysis Core - ICP-MS: determination of elemental content, sample preparation, data analysis, and consolation.
Service Profile

Epigenetics Consortium - Sample preparation and bioinformatics analysis for epigenetics assays (DNA methylation, chromatin conformation, and gene expression)

Flow Cytometry and Monoclonal Antibodies - Cell sorting and analytical flow cytometry, data analysis, consultation, and user education and training. Development of novel monoclonals (against proteins, peptides and post-translational modifications), screening services, hybridoma cryopreservation, mAb expression and mAb purification.
Service Profile

Fly Food Core - The Fly Food Core provides Drosophila food in various forms to research labs at OHSU per order request.

Histopathology - Specimen embedding, sectioning, staining, and immunohistochemistry. 
Service Profile

Integrated Genomics Laboratory - Technologies, services, and expertise for genome-wide and targeted RNA and DNA analysis.
Service Profile

  • DNA Services - Cell-line authentication, oligomer synthesis, and plating/dilution services. 

  • Gene Profiling - RNA/DNA isolation and quality assessment; Microarrays (Affymetrix/Thermo Fisher), NanoString nCounter, and real-time PCR for RNA profiling and DNA variation analysis.

  • Massively Parallel Sequencing - Sample preparation and genomic scale sequencing services on the NovaSeq 6000; 10x Genomics single cell RNA-seq system.

MedEdNet Survey Services – Support and consultation for scannable paper surveys and web based surveys. Services include survey set up, administration, and data processing.

Medicinal Chemistry Core - Investigates the interactions between small molecules and biological systems by providing medicinal chemistry and chemical biology expertise and organic synthesis support.
Service Profile

Multiscale Microscopy Core - State-of-the-art electron and light microscopy facility providing imaging services, access and technical support to OHSU and external customers.
Service Profile

Proteomics - Mass spectrometric services to allow protein identification, detection of post-translational modifications, and profiling of changes in relative protein abundance.
Service Profile

Small Animal Research Imaging Core - MicroPET-SPECT/CT, high frequency ultrasound, and biophotonics imaging services to evaluate anatomy, tissue function, cellular and molecular phenotype, blood/fluid flow, and metabolism in vivo.

Sterol Analysis Laboratory Core - Specializes in providing regulated bioanalytical services.

Transgenic Mouse Models - Development of genetically engineered mouse models, cryopreservation, and other services.
Service Profile

Virology - Production of viral vectors, virus stocks and antigens. Viral diagnostics for virus quantification and serology. User consultation and education.

Congratulations Sterol Analysis Laboratory!

Sterol Analysis Laboratory achieves FDA approval of drug for rare genetic disorder. OHSU’s pioneering research and clinical trials led to better testing and approval for CTX disease.
Read more

Message to the research community from the University Shared Resources – Rates for fiscal year 2025

Not surprisingly, the costs of operations of the cores under the University Shared Resources program have significantly increased over the last couple of years. To offset some of these rising costs and sustain operations, core leaders are in the process of reviewing their rates, which will need to increase in most cases. The core leaders and the USR administration are aware of the impact of these changes on research programs and are doing all they can to minimize these increases by optimizing services as best as they can. We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate these challenges.

Changes to the Transgenic Mouse Models Core

We want to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Lev Fedorov, Ph.D., who will retire at the end of December 2024, to the Transgenic Mouse Models (TMM) core and OHSU research community. During his 16-plus years of service, Fedorov’s leadership enabled the TMM Core to support numerous projects and advance our capabilities in transgenic mouse models and their contributions to research.

The TMM core will transition to a new, reduced-service operating model which continue to offer some essential services, including cryopreservation of mouse embryos and sperm, long-term storage in dedicated cryo-freezers and rederivation of mouse strains to specific pathogen-free status by embryo transfer. Generation of genetically modified mouse strains will no longer be offered.

Single cell analysis resources at OHSU

Advancements in technology now permit the analysis of samples at the single cell level.  The University Shared Resources and others at OHSU are beginning to utilize these exciting advances.

  • Integrated Genomics Laboratory
    • Gene Profiling Shared Resource
      • 10x Genomics Chromium RNA-Seq system services and support
    • Massively Parallel Sequencing Shared Resource
      • Library preparation and sequencing of single cell/nuclei libraries
    • For all single cell sequencing project requests, please contactRobert Searles in the Massively Parallel Sequencing Shared Resourc
  • Flow Cytometry
    • In support of single cell studies, the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource has the capability of sorting discrete populations of cells as well as individual cells into tubes and/or plates. These cell sorts can be performed on the basis of up to 18 fluorescent parameters.
    • Please contact Philip Streeter in the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource
  • Knight Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Mass Spectrometry
    • Stay tuned for future single cell proteomics and single particle elemental analysis

If you have questions, would like to request additional services, or see information missing from this page, please contact Andrew Chitty in the University Shared Resources office.

Feedback for cores

If you would like to provide feedback for any comments, inputs, recommendations, or critiques of the University Shared Resources program or requesting core services, please complete this brief online comment card.

All responses will remain anonymous unless the respondent chooses to list their name.  Responses will be reviewed by the Director of University Shared Resources.

More core resources

University Shared Resource Core boilerplates

If you are planning to include an OHSU Shared Resource in a grant or other project proposal, please contact the Shared Resource/Core director for guidance with assay/service selection, study design, cost estimates, and letters of support.

To request a USR Core boilerplate, please complete and submit the Boilerplate Request Form.

Grow your research with School of Medicine Exploratory Research Seed Grants

These grants provide support for investigators to develop preliminary data for extramural grant applications using OHSU cores.

More info and application guidelines

Acknowledgement and authorship policies

Acknowledgement policy

The use of data generated in a core facility in a grant application, progress report or publication contains the implicit understanding that the PI or authors will acknowledge the use of the core facility.  Since many of our facilities are supported by federal agencies, such acknowledgments are essential for obtaining continuing support. 

Authorship policy

If core personnel provide significant intellectual input to the results submitted for publication, then it is reasonable and appropriate to include them as co-authors.  Since circumstances vary widely, each case should be considered individually, and the core should be consulted for review prior to publishing.