Equipment & labs

Research at the CSBN is made easy by access to extensive core research facilities

The collaborative culture at the CSBN means that scientists frequently share resources and infrastructure. The Center also has several core research facilities that provide CSBN members and their trainees with access to state-of-the-art equipment, instruments and technologies that are routinely maintained by specialized technicians. 

Optogenetics: The function of targeted neuronal subtypes and specified neural projections can be interrogated and characterized using state-of-the-art equipment for in-vivo and in-vitro optogenetics.

HPLC: The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system allows measurement of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, glutamate and acetylcholine, collected through in vivo microdialysis from tissue samples.

RT-PCR: Quantification of mRNA in brain tissue samples is performed in a dedicated room containing specialized instrumentation including a thermal cycler, optical reaction module, and all the necessary accessories and software.

Molecular biology suite: This core facility contains all the instruments and equipment needed to perform common molecular biology procedures such as Western blots, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), autoradiography, and more.

Common laboratory: A large and well-equipped common laboratory area provides access to freezers, icemakers, scales, centrifuges, vibrating blade microtomes (vibratome) and cryostats that are available to all CSBN members.