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Biological Materials ResourcesON THIS PAGE: Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cell ResourceContact Information
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
Web site: www.som.tulane.edu/gene_therapy/distribute.shtml Grant No: Grant No.: P40 RR017447
Principal
Investigator
Additional Contact Research Emphasis/ObjectivesThe overall objective is to establish a center for preparation, quality testing, and distribution to multiple investigators of the adult human, rat, and mouse bone marrow stromal cells (also known as mesenchymal stem cells), referred to as MSCs. Current ResearchThe current research involves: 1) preparing a continuous supply of human MSCs that are thoroughly quality tested and distributing them on request to other investigators at multiple institutions for research on the cells; 2) preparing a similar continuous supply of rat MSCs for distribution to investigators at multiple institutions; 3) preparing a similar continuous supply of mouse MSCs for distribution to investigators at multiple institutions; 4) preparing MSCs from human bone marrow aspirates sent by investigators from other institutions and returning the quality-tested MSCs to same investigators; 5) performing quality testing of MSCs prepared by investigators at other institutions; and 6) developing improved methods of isolating and characterizing human MSCs. Services Provided1) Maintaining a Web site with information about the cells including the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) form for download; 2) processing the MTAs for MSCs from researchers; 3) providing documentation about how to culture the specific MSC type requested; 4) providing information about methods of cell shipment; 5) shipping the requested MSCs to researchers; 6) providing assistance with inquiries about the cells, the culture of the cells, and troubleshooting cell cultures. Viper Resource CenterContact Information
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Web site: ntrc.tamuk.edu Grant No.: P40 RR018300
Principal
Investigator
Assistant Director Research Emphasis/ObjectivesThe Viper Resource Center (VRC) is located in the Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Snake venoms are rich, stable sources of disintegrins, metalloproteinases, and fibrinolytic enzymes. The VRC's mission is to provide global research, training, and resources that will lead to the discovery of medically important toxins found in venoms. The objectives of the VRC are to: 1) provide reliable sources of venoms and other snake products that are not available from other vendors; 2) breed venomous snakes in captivity that are endangered or difficult to acquire; 3) characterize medically important venoms by electrophoretic titration (ET), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzyme activities, and cell-based assays; 4) conduct research that provides insights into structure/function relationships of venom proteins; and 5) develop a snake and venom database that will be useful to other investigators worldwide. Current ResearchThe primary research focus is to characterize disintegrins found in snake venoms that have potential applications to medicine. Disintegrins are competitive inhibitors of normal integrin function. Disintegrins found in snake venoms are low-molecular-weight polypeptides, most of which have an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence, also known as an RGD region, which is the universal recognition sequence for integrin receptors. The RGD motif in disintegrins can affect the shape, orientation, and movement of cells. Since disintegrins interfere with integrin function on the surface of cells, disintegrins have important applications in the discovery of new drugs for treatment of cancer, heart attacks, and stroke. Compounds in snake venoms are being purified, characterized, and screened for disintegrin-like activities. Services ProvidedThe Natural Toxins Research Center's serpentarium currently houses more than 450 venomous snakes representing 29 species, with the goal to eventually include all venomous species from North America. The serpentarium has built-in snake cages with computer-controlled lighting and temperature. Individual snake venoms are collected, lyophilized, and entered into the database. The snakes are cataloged on the Internet database along with their geographical location data, hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities, and HPLC and ET profiles. The VRC provides snake venoms, glands, skins, blood, and organs found in snakes. The database can be queried according to scientific name, common name, sex, and identification number. |
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