Facilities

Equipped with the best

The Center’s state-of-the-art research facilities reside on the campuses of Washington’s two major research universities.  They provide researchers and clinicians with access to tools suitable for evaluating experimental and pre-clinical models and for diagnosing and treating muscle pathologies.  These resources are available to all WCMB members, to their collaborators and to the greater university community.

Washington State University

• Exercise Physiology Phenotyping: This core includes equipment and resources for assessing cardiac function, such as echocardiography and electrophysiology, in pre-clinical animal models. It also includes metabolic treadmills and other equipment for assessing cardiac output, skeletal muscle function and exercise performance.  Small (rodents) and large (dogs, pigs, horses, etc.) animals can be housed for short- or long-term in AAALAC accredited facilities, often for free.  Access to these facilities is provided through collaborations with the core directors so please contact Dr. Dan Rodgers or Dr. Lynne Nelson for more information.  This core is housed in the new Veterinary Medical Research Building along with a state-of-the-art vivarium.
• Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center:  This core maintains two TEMs, two SEMs, three confocal microscopes, fluorescence microscopes and various light microscopes. The Phillips TEM also has an EDX analyzer for elemental analysis. All necessary ancillary equipment, computers for image processing and analysis and access to skilled staff are also provided. Faculty and students are welcome to visit the center located on the ground floor of Abelson Hall. Inquiries about services and courses offered or class tours of the facilities can be made by calling (509) 335-3025.
• Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory: This core provides access to various imaging tools useful for assessing body composition in small (rodents, rabbits, etc.) and large (dogs, pigs, horses, grizzly bears) animals.  This includes Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA), Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography.  Treadmill testing and surgical services are also available.  For more information, please call 800-498-9459 or e-mail the CORL.
• Bayly Exercise Physiology Research Lab:  This lab is equipped with high-speed and aquatic treadmills for functionally assessing exercise and respiratory metabolic performance in large animals (dogs, pigs, horses).  The core is used for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and is particularly well equipped for drug intervention and pre-clinical testing as it is managed by veterinarians with expertise in specific vertebrate species.  For more information, please contact the core supervisor, Ray Sides (509-335-0805).
• Hormone Assay Core: This core is managed by WSU’s Center for Reproductive Biology and is accessible to the greater university community.  This fee-for-service core performs radioimmuno (RIA), radioreceptor (RRA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbant asssys (ELISA).  It also generates antisera for the construction of novel assays and trains university personnel to perform.  For more information, visit their homepage or contact the director, Dr. Derek McLean, or the coordinator, David de Avila (509-335-8158).

University of Washington

• The Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM): Committed to the ethical pursuit of basic research to unleash the enormous potential of stem cells and thereby develop therapies and cures, the Institute occupies new research space and will accelerate the development of therapies in the emerging field of regenerative medicine.  Core facilities within the ISCRM include the Tom & Sue Ellison Stem Cell Core, the Lynn & Mike Garvey Cell Imaging Lab, the Quellos High Throughput Screening Core and the Flow Cytometry Core.

• Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center: Composed of four research projects and four Core laboratories, including a vector biology core, the Center includes a membership of more than 30 faculty members in the Seattle area with interests in neuromuscular disease research.