Controlled Environments
Core Director: Coen Adema, PhD
Technician: Melissa Sanchez, PhD
Phone: (505) 277- 4278
The Controlled Environments Core (CEC) provides investigators with facilities that enable safe long-term storage of research samples and provide unique controlled environments for maintenance and safe experimentation with non-traditional model organisms.
Climate controlled facilities
Conviron CR1006 (45 sq ft) walk-in environmental chamber and two (2) Conviron E8 chambers each with “reach-in access” to 8 sq ft of incubation area. These chambers with adjustable temperature and light/dark regimen can support the maintenance of plants and animals with specific temperature requirements.
Facilities for rearing snails and selected other invertebrates are equipped with a water purification system, pressurized air for water aeration, light/dark timer, temperature control, racks and tanks, dissection microscopes, cold light sources, 20C incubator and refrigerator/freezer. This facility holds a BSL2 designation for work with trematode parasites.
Ultra-cold storage facility
UUsers of CEC’s freezer farm may have their freezers connected to a monitoring and alarm system. This system initiates automatic robocalls and e-mail messages to alert personnel if the temperature exceeds preset parameters. Users have remote on-line access to monitor freezers and to acknowledge alarm messages. The freezer farm facility is temperature controlled, electric power delivery is protected through integration into the emergency power backup system of the building. The facility has backup ultracold freezer capacity to accommodate samples for temporary storage. A Fisher Scientific Locator 6 PLUS with level monitor is available for storage of up to 6000 samples in liquid nitrogen.
Tissue culture facility
The CEC maintains a tissue culture facility with a BSL2 biological safety cabinet.
Scheduling
To access CEC’s services, please call 277-5508.
Fees
The Controlled Environments Core will start to phase in charges for facilities by summer 2016. Remaining costs associated with running the CEC are supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences COBRE award number P30GM110907.
