Research Cores in Upstate Nathan Shock Center

Live Animal Resource Core
 Frozen Zoo Biobank Core
 Unconventional Invertebrate Core
 Comparative Omics Core

The Nathan Shock Center brings together leading researchers from different departments in University of Rochester through specialized research cores. Each core provides unique expertise, resources, and collaborative opportunities to advance our understanding of aging biology and develop interventions for healthy aging.

Our integrated approach combines cutting-edge technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translational research to bridge the gap between basic science discoveries and clinical applications. These cores serve as the foundation for innovative aging research across both institutions.

Administrative Core (Admin Core)

Core Leader: Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.

The Administrative Core provides the mechanism to plan, evaluate, and manage the Upstate NSC activities:

  • Administrative Management: Provide scientific, programmatic, and fiscal leadership for the Upstate NSC
  • Communication & Coordination: Facilitate communication between all researchers, maintain cohesion among the Upstate NSC cores, and coordinate activities for effective resource use
  • Resource Distribution: Facilitate distribution of samples and reagents, ensure quality control and progress
  • Compliance & Requirements: Meet administrative and financial requirements of the NIH and University of Rochester
  • Institutional Collaboration: Work with institutional officials to leverage established resources to support the Upstate NSC
  • Outreach Management: Increase visibility of the Center and effectively transfer data and resources to the scientific community

Research & Development Core (RDC)

Core Leader: M. Kerry O’Banion, M.D., Ph.D.

The Research & Development Core supports the growth and advancement of aging research through targeted initiatives:

  • Incentivize and facilitate innovative aging research projects by offering competitive pilot project awards.
  • Promote training and mentoring in aging research across the training continuum including developing mentoring committees for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty and overseeing undergraduate Summer Research Internships.
  • Foster scientific exchange and collaboration by supporting short-term visits for training or experiments and travel to conferences.

Live Animal Resource Core (Research Core)

Core Leader: Andrei Seluanov, Ph.D.

The goal of the Live Animal Resource Core within the Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center is to provide investigators across the nation access to unconventional mammalian models of aging and longevity:

  • Provide advice on study design involving unconventional animal models for aging research.
  • Provide access to live naked mole rats, Damaraland mole rats, and African spiny mice for use in biogerontological research.
  • Develop projects with investigators interested in using these species relevant to biogerontological research.
  • Provide investigators with custom-collected samples.

Frozen Zoo Biobank Core (Research Core)

Core Leader: Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.

The goal of the Frozen Zoo Biobank Core within the Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center (Upstate NSC) is to provide investigators across the nation access to the unique resources for comparative biology studies including primary fibroblasts and frozen tissues from over 50 mammalian species with diverse maximum lifespans:

  • Provide advice on the design of comparative biology of aging studies. Assist with the statistical analysis of comparative biology data, including correction for confounding variables such as body mass and phylogeny.
  • Provide frozen tissues and primary fibroblasts from 50+ species of mammals with diverse lifespans.
  • Generate proteome data sets from non-standard model organisms and make them available to researchers in the aging field.

Unconventional Invertebrate Core (Research Core)

Core Co-Leaders: Floria Uy, Ph.D. and Karl Glastad, Ph.D.

The goal of the Unconventional Invertebrate Core within the Upstate NY Nathan Shock Center is to develop understudied but extremely promising invertebrate eusocial systems for aging research, as well as provide advice, guidance, and access on these to the wider aging community:

  • Provide advice on the design of aging studies utilizing unconventional invertebrate models (eusocial wasps and ants).
  • Generate genomic and proteomic data sets from unconventional invertebrate aging models and make them available to researchers in the aging field.
  • Provide investigators with tissue samples from aged invertebrate individuals when available.
  • Develop cell lines from wasps and ants and once developed, provide to interested investigators.

Comparative Omics Core (Research Core)

Core Co-Leaders: Sina Ghaemmaghami, Ph.D. and Hongbo Liu, Ph.D.

The Comparative Omics Core provides a suite of proteomics and comparative omics services tailored to aging research:

  • Provide support in experimental design, sample preparation, and data interpretation.
  • Protein identification, quantitation, and post-translational modification profiling.
  • Single-cell proteomics using state-of-the-art mass spectrometers
  • Provide support for multiomics integration for aging research.