Biobehavioral Research Laboratory
A VCU-approved service center aspiring to make biomarker discovery an attainable goal for the research community
Designed and built by nurse scientists through National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Nursing Research P20 and P30 Center grants, the Biobehavioral Research Laboratory (BRL) examines relationships between biomarkers, behavior and psychosocial factors in order to address health disparities and improve outcomes for multiple health conditions.
The laboratory is a 3,800 square foot, state-of-the-science suite on the fourth floor of the School of Nursing with 14 rooms for conducting physiologic and behavioral monitoring, clinical sample processing, and a wide range of molecular assays. Since its founding, the BRL has acquired additional platforms and equipment through R-level funding, from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund (HEETF) program and through other sources of institutional support.
The BRL offers an extensive range of services using a traditional fee-for-service model. The BRL also works collaboratively with VCU Core laboratories and other outside entities to provide investigators access to services not offered in-house such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), Illumina DNA methylation Bead Arrays, telomere analysis and more.
Services and Offerings
The laboratory director and her team can help you design your project, develop a detailed plan for collection of biomarkers, genetic information, or physiological measurements and make recommendations for analysis.
The Biobehavioral Research Lab processes and stores many sample types in preparation for downstream assays including blood, saliva, cultured cells, urine, hair, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues and exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The lab provides sample storage (at -80°C, -20°C and -140°C LiN2) and has two tissue culture hoods and three C0² incubators dedicated to tissue culture experiments. The lab also offers DNA and RNA extraction and purification from multiple sample types.
DNA-Based Assays
- DNA extraction, purification and quality assurance/quality control
- Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping on singleplex real-time and multiplex MassARRAY platforms
- DNA methylation (candidate gene fine mapping via MassARRAY platform)
- Coordinate next generation sequencing with the VCU Genomics Core and other outside entities as needed
- Coordinate DNAme Illumina Bead Arrays with outside entities as needed
RNA-Based Assays
- RNA purification and quality assurance/quality control
- Candidate gene mRNA assays (Real-time Biorad and ABI Quant Studio 5 platforms)
- Multiplex (n=800+) mRNA and miRNA Nanostring nCounter assays (Bruker Spatial Biology)
- Coordination of RNA sequencing with the VCU Genomics Core
- Whole Transcriptome using the Bruker Spatial Biology GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler platform
- Spatial exploration of single cell transcriptome with Bruker Spatial Biology CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager
Protein-Based Assays
- Protein quantitation (ELISA singleplex and multiplex assays on the MSD Platform)
- Digital Spatial Profiling on the Bruker Spatial Biology GeoMx platform
- Single cell and subcellular spatial multiomics using the Bruker Spatial Biology CosMx spatial molecular imager
Adjacent to the BRL Wet Lab suite, the Clinical Research Lab (CRL) suite is equipped for research participant enrollment with observation spaces and private rooms for conducting physiologic and behavioral monitoring, clinical sample collection and administering questionnaires and interviews. It has been used in many studies of multiple clinical populations such as those experiencing long COVID, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive decline, multiple sclerosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, tobacco exposure and asthma.
The facility contains portable equipment for monitoring heart rate variability, vital signs (including pulse oximetry) and non-invasive/ambulatory blood pressure measurement. The CRL is equipped with phlebotomy stations, ultrasound imaging, a treadmill and point of care (POC) devices (blood glucose monitors, thermometers, standing and portable ultrasound machines, portable electrocardiogram machines, etc.).
Equipment Showcase
Bruker Spatial Biology nCounter Digital Analyzer and Prep Station
Interrogation of up to N=800+ mRNA and miRNAs in a single sample
Bruker Spatial Biology CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager
Spatial exploration of single cell whole transcriptome using FFPE and fresh frozen tissues; interrogation of up to 68 proteins; cell atlas characterization and spatial biomarkers
Bruker Spatial Biology GeoMx
Digital spatial gene expression profiling of FFPE tissues; whole transcriptomes from selected 100 µM regions of interest (ROIs); interrogation of 96+ proteins of selected ROIs
Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) ELISA Platform
Singleplex ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and multiplex ELISA of up to ten analytes per sample per well
Spectramax i3x
Singleplex ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays)
Real-Time PCR Platforms (ABI Quant Studio 5 and Biorad CFX96)
Candidate gene SNP genotyping and mRNA expression (TaqMan and other probe-based assays)
Additional Equipment and Platforms
The BRL also supports the following instruments — select a platform for full details.
Our Expert Team
Lathika Mohanraj, Ph.D.
Lab Director
mohanrajl@vcu.edu
Alex Feygin
Lab Research Specialist
afeygin@vcu.edu
Michelle Rhodes
Lab Research Specialist
rhodesm5@vcu.edu
