Molecular Biology Immunopathology Core. The proposed Center for Pre-Clinical Cancer Research (Cancer COBRE) at Louisiana State University (LSU) focuses on elucidating molecular and cellular mechanisms of human cancer using specialized disease models that are predictive of disease in humans. The Cancer COBRE will focus on devastating human cancers that have poor treatment outcome in patients in need of novel therapeutic strategies. The proposed projects led by highly Promising Junior Investigators (PJIs) require the application of advanced molecular biological and immunopathological principles, methods and particularly advances in genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, immunology and pathology to delineate key cellular mechanisms for each specific cancer necessitating access to state-of-the-art equipment and technical expertise. The Molecular Biology and Immunopathology Core (MBIPC) has been created to leverage and expand the resources and expertise of the Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (BioMMED) at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), which administers six Core Facilities: Gene Expression and Sequencing Laboratory (GeneLab), Viral Vectors Laboratory, Protein Characterization and Purification laboratory (PCPL), which is also generates monospecific and monoclonal antibodies to proteins of interest, the Small Animal Imaging Laboratory (SAIL) and the Molecular Immunopathology laboratory (MIPL) that provides expertise in immunopathology and access to the SVM Centralized Facilities (FACS and Pathology Cost Centers), and also provides expertise and access to bioimaging and advanced immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. These laboratories are currently co-supported by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN/INBRE), which also operates the LBRN Bioinformatics Core in close collaboration with the LSU Center for Computation & Technology (CCT). The goal of MBIPC is to provide and coordinate access to state of the advanced instrumentation and services and provide training in a broad spectrum of fundamental and advanced molecular biology and immunopathology to all PJIs and other NIH- funded investigators to achieve their research objectives. MBIPC has identified two specific aims:
Aim 1. To provide the Cancer COBRE and other NIH-funded investigators with resources and expertise in molecular and cell biology and immunopathology including instrumentation, technical support, consultation and training, and assistance in developing new methodologies.
Aim 2 : To organize, coordinate, and facilitate interactions among COBRE investigators and work collaboratively to develop and use new technologies and assays, and train PJIs, faculty, staff, and students in advanced molecular biology and immunopathology technologies.
