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Core research facilities

Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s core facilities are shared research resources providing state-of-the art instruments, technology, and research services to empower research excellence and innovation across the university.

Â鶹´«Ã½ DalCore

The Office of Vice-President, Research & Innovation (OVPRI) has developed a Core Research Facilities program (DalCore) to provide administrative and financial support to facilities that advance the research mission of Â鶹´«Ã½.Ìý

To learn more about participating in the DalCore program, facility leaders can contact dalcore@dal.ca

Animal resources

Located in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), the Zebrafish Core Facility provides zebrafish resources and services including microinjection, fluorescent microscopy, behavioral monitoring, breeding & maintenance, CFIA import quarantine services, and embryo and adult fish procurement. 

Aquatic Research

Aquatron LaboratoryÌý

The Aquatron Laboratory located on the Halifax campus is the largest university aquatic research facility in Canada. The facility is equipped with six large tanks holding a combined volume of over 2,000 m3, as well as a wide variety of smaller tanks, which can provide high quality, temperature-controlled seawater and freshwater to accommodate a broad range of lab-based aquatic experiments.Ìý

Aquaculture CentreÌý

The Aquaculture Centre located on the Truro campus offers 8,100 square feet of laboratories and aquatic rearing facilities with freshwater and seawater sources and environmental controls, enabling students and researchers to work with a wide variety of aquatic species.

Computing

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Advanced Computing Core Facility

The Advanced Computing Core Facility offers a high-performance computing and storage environment crucial for handling the extensive computational demands of modern research projects, including the use of rapidly evolving tools and in machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI), human-computer interaction (HCI), and digital innovation and technologies. Please contact Dr. Frank Rudzicz at frank@dal.ca for information and access requests.

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Cytometry/Tissue Analysis

The Flow Cytometry Core Facility maintains and operates several flow cytometers that support a broad range of capabilities including complex multi-colour analytical flow cytometry, full-service cell sorting, and imaging flow cytometry. The facility operates at locations in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI) and the Tupper Medical building.

The Histology and Digital Pathology Core Facility contains advanced instrumentation for a wide range of routine and advanced histology and digital pathology services, including tissue processing and embedding, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, whole slide scanning and tissue microarray

The Maritime Brain Tissue Bank is a vital resource for researchers studying neurodegenerative diseases. Established in 1993, the facility contains brain and spinal cord tissues from healthy individuals and those affected by diseases.

Genomics

Located in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), the Genomics Core Facility provides access to next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and sample library preparation services for a range of sequencing applications including whole genome, exome, transcriptome, and Sanger sequencing. 

Imaging & Microscopy

Located in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), the CMDI Core Facility houses an array of state-of-the-art imaging systems that support a range of microscopy techniques along with software for image processing and 3D image reconstruction. 

The EM Core Facility provides advanced research services for both transmission EM (TEM) and scanning EM (SEM) applications, including consultation, sample preparation, and acquiring images on TEM and SEM equipment.

Materials CharacterizationÌýCore Facility

The Materials Characterization Core Facility (MCCF) provides Â鶹´«Ã½ researchers with access to a range of instruments for diverse analytical applications using techniques including microscopy, spectrometry, diffraction/scattering, and thermal analysis.Ìý

Materials Characterization

Materials Characterization Core FacilityÌý

The Materials Characterization Core Facility (MCCF) provides Â鶹´«Ã½ researchers with access to a range of instruments for diverse analytical applications using techniques including microscopy, spectrometry, diffraction/scattering, and thermal analysis.Ìý

Spectrometry

Located in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), the BMS Core facility offers a full range of mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical services including top-down and bottom-up proteomics, lipidomics, targeted compound and drug monitoring, and customized MS methods to meet client needs. 

Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Core Facility

The Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Core Facility offers a range of mass spectrometric ionization techniques including electron ionization (EI), electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and atmospheric pressure photo ionization (APPI).

ICP-MS Division, Materials Characterization Core FacilityÌý

The Materials Characterization Core Facility offers inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technology for measurement of ultratrace abundance levels of a large array of elements, coupled with laser ablation (LA) sampling for micron-scale resolution.

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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Biological NMR Division, Faculty of Medicine CORES FacilitiesÌý

Located in the Faculty of Medicine’s CORES suite within the Life Sciences Research Institute (LSRI), the Biological NMR Core Facility provides access to a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer fine-tuned for evaluation of biological samples including, macromolecular complexes or samples containing mixtures of molecules. The instrumentation is capable of operating both solution-state and solid-state NMR spectroscopy modalities. Please contact bionmr@dal.ca for information and access requests.

NMR3 Core Facility

The NMR-3 Core Facility operates several NMR spectrometers capable of studying both liquid and solids ranging from ranging from 300 MHz to 700 MHz.  Each of the spectrometers has unique capabilities that address the many diverse needs of our users and is supported by dedicated technical staff to provide expert consultation and training.

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