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SUNY Upstate Medical university Biochemistry Department

Research Facilities

grad student in lab.

Investigators at Upstate Medical University share a number of state-of-the-art research facilities

Center for Bioresearch Imaging

The Center for Bioresearch Imaging enables researchers to acquire, process and export high-quality images of research material. The Dr. Ring and student in Center for Bioresearch Imaging center contains a Bio-Rad MRC-1024 confocal microscope and two photomicroscopes—a Nikon Eclipse 800 and Nikon Microphot FX—capable of photographing fluorescent and DIC (Differential Interference Contrast) images onto 35 mm film or a high-resolution digital camera.


Electron Microscopy

A full-time specialist maintains the Electron Microscopy facility, which contains two JEOL-100CX transmission electron microscopes, one of which is equipped with an ASID attachment for scanning. Peripheral equipment includes a Reichert-Jung FC4E and several Dupont MT2-B ultramicrotomes for both frozen and plastic-embedded thin sectioning, a Cressington CFE-50 freeze fracture apparatus, and a fully equipped darkroom for developing and printing EM films.

Department of Laboratory Animal Resources

The Department of Laboratory Animal Resources occupies approximately 27,000 square feet in three on-campus locations. Facilities include housing and support areas for amphibians, rodents, rabbits, nonhuman primates, dogs, cats and domestic livestock.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Facility

Upstate maintains a dedicated MRI research facility with a 1.5 Tesla, Philips Intera, whole body MRI scanner. The scanner is capable of a wide range of neurofunctional imaging as well as clinical protocols, including those used to visualize anatomy and to obtain localized NMR spectra.

Computer Modeling Facilities

Our computer modeling facilities include a parallel computer equipped with 30 processors, 10 GB of RAM, a storage array of 1 terabytes, a robotics backup system enabling us to rapidly archive data on tapes, 12 UNIX workstations, and a graphic station capable of rendering 1.3 million polygons per second. Overall, we operate about 30 specialized scientific applications which enable us to analyze biomedical data, build geometrical models, simulate the propagation of electrical impulses in biological tissue, perform searches in data bases of biochemical compounds and animate computer simulations.

Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is a method for quantification of the physical or biochemical properties of cells using fluorescence. The flow cytometer makes these measurements one cell at a time, but can process several thousand individual cells per second. It can also physically isolate any cell population that might have desired properties. Flow cytometers are found in all major health care and biological research institutions. We have four such machines at Upstate Medical University actively used by graduate students for dissertation research after appropriate training.

DNA and Microarray Core Facility

The microarray reader provides access to technology for the simultaneous measurement of the expression of several thousand genes. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, this facility has the goal of providing assessment of expression of all relevant genes in particular tissues, organs or diseases. The facility has collaborative arrangements for array construction with the Harvard Genome Center. This molecular core facility has an automated DNA sequencer, the Applied Bioimaging (ABI) 377.

Structural Biology Facilities

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department houses a Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics core facility (matrix assisted laser desorption and quadrapole time-of-flight mass spectrometers with high performance liquid chromatography front end) and an x-ray diffraction facility geared toward solving high resolution structures of proteins and nucleic acids. Both facilities opened in 2003. In addition, there are modern 500 and 600 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers at neighboring Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Institute for Human Performance

Exterior of the Institute for Human Performance. The new $50 million Institute for Human Performance serves as a multidisciplinary incubator for research aimed at extending the reach of human performance and minimizing the limitations of disease, disability and aging. The Institute includes an indoor track with seven force plates for ultra-sensitive motion analysis; radiostereometric analysis equipment that creates 3D x-ray images to measure minute changes within bone and joint replacement implants; a multi-purpose aquatic center anchored by a 25-meter, four-lane temperature controlled pool with a floor that adjusts from ground level to seven feet in depth; an aquatic research lab where computers use telemetry to capture cardiovascular, motion analysis and other data from patients in the pool; and a SwimEx hydrotherapy system, with 40 adjustable speeds of surface water, advanced instrumentation and complete underwater visibility.

Health Sciences Library is housed in a spacious new building adjacent to Weiskotten Hall.

The library's collection contains:
  • more than 183,000 volumes
  • 4,100 audiovisual titles in videocassettes, slides, models, audiotapes, computer programs and CD-ROMs
  • more than 1,400 active journal subscriptions.
The catalog of holdings is completely automated.

Exterior of corner of HSC Library building.

The library provides computer access to hundreds of full-text biomedical, medical, nursing and health-related journals via the

LIBRARY HOMEPAGE (www.upstate.edu/library)

as well as databases available only to library visitors. The library also offers many more on-line resources—including an electronic encyclopedia and textbooks—through its participation in SUNY Connect.

The library's web resources are available on PCs in the library and elsewhere on campus. In addition, students may access these resources from home, dorm or office by using a LEAP (Library Enhanced Access Program) password.

Special facilities at the library include a state-of-the-art media center, classrooms equipped for distance learning and teleconferences, individual study carrels equipped for audiovisual use, study rooms, personal computers, a microcomputer classroom and a climate-controlled vault for rare and special collections.

The Next Silicon Valley

Two proposed centers could turn Syracuse into a national leader for biotechnology research. The governor of New York has pledged $20 million toward a new Biotechnology Research Center to be constructed next to the Upstate campus, and $37 million has been awarded to nearby Syracuse University for a new Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems.

We're SUNY

The State University of New York

Upstate is part of the State University of New York (SUNY), the largest university system in the United States, with more than 388,000 students on 64 campuses. SUNY is one of the Top 10 U.S. institutions for patents issued each year, and ranks 16th among research universities for royalties earned on inventions.