COVID-19 Updates

Please check back daily for more information on the COVID-19 impact on Research Core operations.

Advanced Microscopy Facility – Operations Severely Impaired
-Wednesday, March 25th at 5pm – closing down access to AMF instruments. Users who need access must contact Stacey or Adrian for an appointment.
-Instruments are still available for reservation and use, but AMF faculty/staff availability for imaging assistance and troubleshooting may be limited. Stacey and Adrian’s cell numbers will be posted with each instrument so that you can reach them by text with questions/issues. New instrument trainings will be postponed.

Bioinformatics Core – Operations Normal
-Note from Bioinformatics Core Director: To keep up with your research productivity this is the best time to think on Bioinformatics projects in collaboration with Bioinformatics Core. If anybody is in the process of grant writing, I will be happy to generate data for you. This can also be done by reprocessing your lab’s old data or publicly available datasets on cyberspace. Bioinformatics Core director (pk7z@virginia.edu) is available to chat and discuss any project one to one through zoom. Please take this opportunity to improve your computational skill sets as well as your lab productivity.

Biomolecular Analysis Facility – Operations Normal
-Operations are normal and ready to take all experiments

BioNMR – Operations Slightly Limited
-At 7pm on Fri. 3/20 access to the NMR spectrometers will be limited to those who need to complete ongoing critical experiments that would require significant duplication of previous work if they were delayed. If you need to use a NMR spectrometer after 3/20 please contact Jeff Ellena jfe@virginia.edu
-The items which NMR users typically touch while at or near the spectrometers (keyboard, mouse, spinner, room door handle, etc.) will be disinfected once a day.
-There is hand sanitizer and nitrile gloves at each of the spectrometers. These may be used by all NMR users.
-There are kimwipes and ethanol near each spectrometer. Ethanol is an effective anti-coronavirus agent and NMR users are welcome to wipe surfaces with an ethanol-soaked kimwipe.
-Nitrogen and helium suppliers will continue to operate normally as of now

Biorepository and Tissue Research Facility – Operations Severely Impaired
-As of Monday 03/23, the BTRF will not have the capability to pick up clinical trial specimens from hospital labs and clinics. Study specimens, supporting paperwork, supplies, and shippers will need to be brought to the BTRF lab by a member of the study team.
-As of Monday 03/23, research related activities in the BTRF which are not supporting patient care will be suspended. This includes immunohistochemistry, non-essential histology, biomolecule extraction, and slide scanning. We will not be collecting tissue in surgical pathology for individual investigators except where this is required for a clinical trial.

Center for Human Therapeutics – cGMP Core – Operations Normal

Exercise Physiology Core Laboratory – Operations Severely Impaired
-Please contact Core Director Lisa Farr prior due to subject contact. Lisa Farr (LMS5A@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu).

Flow Cytometry Core – Operations Slightly Impaired
-Effective March 31st – All scheduled appointments (including unassisted) require Core approval.
-Staffing shortage
-The Flow Core continues to operate during normal hours
-For all assisted services, analytical and sorting, we are implementing drop off services only. Please email us before hand with sample information or drop off with your samples. We will contact you when processing is done
-If running unassisted we ask you only attend by yourself and do not bring other lab members with you.
-Wipe down all workstations before and after use

Genetically Engineered Murine Model Core – Operations Normal

Genome Analysis Technology Core – Operations Slightly Impaired
-**NEWS Labs Ramp-Up**
-As of June 10, 2020 new Contact Tracing protocols are in place to access the GATC instruments (Qubit, TS, Bio-A), as well as dropping samples for Single Cell Genomics.  Use a camera phone to scan the QR code at each core rooms entrance before you come in, and follow sign in/sign out instructions
-Please email Dr.’s Katia Sol-Church (ks5uq) or Yongde Bao (yb8d) before dropping samples off in room 1076 or room 1044, respectively
-Every user must wear PPE (mask and gloves) and follow the social distancing.  Please note distancing tapes on the floor in each rooms.
-In order to serve you better during this time, please fill in your iLab request in advance, so we may make sure we have the appropriate kit and staff on site.

Molecular Electron Microscopy Core – Operations Slightly Impaired
-Limit self-service to one person in the room at a time. Minimize use as much as possible.
-Please wear gloves and wipe down instruments.
-For all assisted services, we are minimizing contact. Please email or call to coordinate sample selection or drop-off.
-No graduate student access after March 30 without Provost permission.

Molecular Imaging Core – Operations Slightly Impaired
-Only imaging time sensitive animals
-Not starting any new studies
-Please contact the Core Director Stuart Berr (sb4b@virginia.edu) with any questions

Molecular Immunologic & Translational Science Core – Operations Severely Impaired
-Staff shortage

MolMart – Operations Slightly Impaired
-Hours of operation for 6/29 – 7/2 will be noon to 2pm
-Gloves will be limited to purchase of five boxes per lab until further notice
-Ethanol will be limited to purchase two gallons per lab until further notice

Radiochemistry Core – Operations Severely Impaired
-Staff furloughs
-Contact Kiel Neumann for additional information at kdn2e@virginia.edu

Research Histology Core – Operations Slightly Impaired
-From 5/25 – 8/16 turnaround times 10 to 15 working days
-From 5/25 – 8/16 the Core will be closed on Fridays

Stem Cell Core – Operations Severely Impaired
-Projects and cryostorage shipments will not be available between May 25 and June 12

For more information, contact Chris Tuck, ct7rt@virginia.edu