Research
Research Facilities:
The Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging is a science and tecnology center that brings together biological and physical science faculty and students to merge molecular imaging with nanotechnologies, integrated microfluidics and systems biology. Our goal is to create new science and technologies, from cells to rodent models of disease. The Institute has instrumentation and facilities that include confocal microscopy, microPET scanners, microCT scanners, in vivo optical imaging systems (fluorescence and bioluminescence), digital autoradiography, mass spectrometry, integrated microfluidics chips for molecular synthesis and biology, cell cultures, specialized vivariums, DNA sequencers and synthesizers and computational systems. In 2006, the Crump Institute will move to the new California NanoSystems Institute building to form a partnership between these two Institutes.
The Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMED) is an Institute that brings together biology, immunology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, biomathematics, and clinical scientists to understand fundamental principles of cell function and to translate basic sciences into molecular diagnostics and molecular therapeutics in patients, based on a systems biology view of disease. IMED has 2 cyclotrons, chemistry labs and automated chemical synthesizers for producing positron labeled molecular imaging probes, biomarkers and drugs; labs for synthesizing and screening molecules as biological probes and drugs; a molecular imaging "Mouse Clinic" and patient clinic, the latter located in the Ahmanson Biological Imaging Division of the Department; well equipped biological sciences labs; a Computational and Modeling Technology Center for tracer kinetics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; an Information Technology Center providing the communication systems for the Institutes, Department and Clinic.
The Molecular Genetics Technology Center provides state-of-art technologies for generating transgenic, knock-out and knock-in mice. The Center also adapts and improves the current technologies to meet the future needs for molecular genetic studies. Animal models generated are used for studying diverse biological functions in the post-genome era as well as for understanding human diseases and testing new therapeutics.
The Molecule Screening Shared Resource is a core facility that specializes in high throughput screening. The Facility has automated liquid handling devices, various small molecule libraries and a database of results from the screens.