Facilities and Equipment

The Harrington Laboratory for Molecular Orthopedics is located in the Smith East Building at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160. This comprehensive laboratory occupies 2300 sq ft of laboratory space accommodating four research sections, as well as 560 sq ft of office space including a meeting room for research and educational presentations.

The major equipment items for each Research Section of the Harrington Laboratory are listed below:

Molecular and Cell Biology Section

• An AB 7500 Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems) for quantitative gene expression analysis ·
• Two conventional PCR systems (Eppendorf Mastercycler and DNAcyclerDCR, Dynalon) for reverse transcription ·
• A Nanophotometer (IMPLEN P330) for DNA/RNA quantification ·
• A Leica DM IL LED Fluo inverted fluorescence microscope with a video camera connected to a PC computer and a Nikon inverted microscope for observation and photography of cells ·        
• Two Napco Model 6000 CO2 incubators for tissue and cell cultivation ·
• Two Labconco laminar-flow hoods for tissue/cell cultivation ·
• A Sonicator (BRANSON Sonifier Model 250) for DNA and chromatin preparation
• An Eppendorf 5810R centrifuge·        
• A Beckman Avanti J-E centrifuge

Histology Section

• A computerized automatic tissue processor (Thermo) for histological specimen processing ·
• A tissue-embedding center (Thermo) for paraffin embedding of tissue specimens
• A microtome (Shandon Finesse ME) for sectioning both decalcified and undecalcified skeletal tissues embedded in JB4 plastic medium·
• An cabinet oven for preparation of tissue sections ·
• A 6-foot wide fume hood for histological staining and chemicals ·
• Two student microscopes for observation and teaching purpose ·
• Two water incubators for immunohistochemical staining ·
• A ZEISS Axioskop-100 microscope connected to a digital camera and a PC computer for photography of stained tissue sections

Biochemistry Section

• A Genova Life Science spectrophotometer with DataWay PC software (Techne) for quantitative analysis of protein concentrations, biochemical factors, and mineral contents of bone tissues and cell cultures ·
• Electrophoresis systems for SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting ·
• A LC-6AD Semi-Prep HPLC System (Shimadzu Scientific Instruments) for protein purification and analyses ·
• A GloMax®-Multi Microplate Multimode Reader (Promega) including an absorbance module (for ELISA and other protein assays), a luminescence module (for luciferase and other biochemical assays), and a fluorescence module (for quantification of fluorescence intensity) ·
• A Freeze-Dry System (Labconco) for lyophilization of proteins ·
• A FOTODYNE: Luminary/FX/2.0 Gel Documentation System connected to a digital camera and PC computer for photography of PAGE, DNA, RNA and Western blotting gels

In Vivo Animal Studies Section

• A surgical microscope (Leica, LZ-6) with a video camera connected to a PC computer and monitor for both microsurgery and microdissection ·
• An autoclave for sterilization of surgical instruments (available in the common equipment room of the Smith East Building) ·
• A fully equipped operating room located in the Smith East Animal Facility.

Core Facilities Related to Our Projects

AKTApurifier Versatile FPLC protein purification systems (GE Healthcare) are located in Room 1058, Hemenway Building in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at KUMC.

Mass Spectrometry and Proteomic Core Facilities are located in Room 1058, Hemenway Building in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at KUMC.

Genomics and Informatics core facilities for DNA microarray, ChIP-sequencing, RNA-sequencing and functional pathway analysis are located on the First Floor of the Hemenway Building at KUMC.

Specialized microscopes (confocal, laser capture, electronic microscopes) are located on the basement floor of the Lied Building at KUMC.

Transgenic and Gene Targeting Facility for generation of transgenic mice is located on the Ground Floor of the Hemenway Building at KUMC.