CHHE Active in Shale Gas Extraction Summit on Public Health Implications and Prevention Shale Gas Extraction, also known as “hydrofracking” or “fracking,” is increasingly in the news as the deployment of the technologies has expanded, rural communities have transformed overnight, public awareness has increased, and regulations have developed. In many states, early discussions about shale [...]
Biomolecule Assessment
The Biomolecule Assessment Facility (BAFC) is a two component facility core consisting of the Genomic Sciences Laboratory which provides high though-put sequencing, genome analysis and gene expression technology and the Mass Spectrometry Facility which provides proteomics and metabolomics services to the CHHE research community. Read more >>
Bioinformatics/Statistics
The goals and objectives of the BSFC are to facilitate high-quality CHHE research activities by providing cutting-edge bioinformatics and statistical expertise and support to CHHE researchers during all stages of study design, execution, and analysis. Read more >>
Integrative Health Sciences Facility Core
As mentioned in the Strategic Vision Section, NC State University has a strong environmental health science
research base that has been drawn together and organized into a center that will facilitate and promote
synergies among investigators creating an environmental health research focus that has an impact much greater than a sum of the individual investigators. Read more >>
Comparative Pathology
CHHE investigators use sophisticated approaches in environmental health research including the development and analysis of genetically engineered mouse models, recombinant-inbred mouse intercross populations, traditional rodent models as well as non-mammalian model systems such zebra fish and Medaka fish to identify genes/pathways important in environmentally-induced diseases Animal model studies and tissue pathology are essential for understanding organ and multi-organ effects in environmental human health research and to understand and prevent the adverse impacts of environmental factors on human health and well-being. In fact, over 40% of CHHE researchers use vertebrate animal models and this number is expected to increase. Animal models serve to answer fundamental questions about the type of tissue injury and potential human disease/s caused by environmental exposures as well as the effects of new preventative or corrective intervention. To understand how this injury forms in vivo, animal models and now genetically engineered mouse models have become standard tools to mechanistically dissect the contribution/s of specific genes and molecular pathways. The organ and multi-organ tissue reactions in these models are complex and genetic manipulations are only becoming more sophisticated. This situation has led to a nationally recognized need for pathology expertise in biomedical research and collaborative animal model assessment to best understand the tissue changes created in these animal models. Relevant modeling techniques now also include fish and domesticated species, the latter of which provide the relevance of scale and trans-species testing before translation to human application. It is apparent that CHHE researchers need regular and timely access to expertise in pathology to fully evaluate complex tissue responses in different animal models needed to advance their in vivo research and to successfully model human disease. A new Comparative Pathology Facility Core (CPFC) is essential to provide a central dedicated resource of veterinary pathology expertise and services to facilitate assessment of animal models by CHHE member scientists. Read more >>
Molecular, Cellular and Animal Imaging
The Molecular, Cellular and Animal Imaging Facility Core (MCAIFC) is designed to coordinate access and enhance and extend the research programs of CHHE investigators by providing access to and training in the use of imaging instrumentation including confocal microscopes, FACS equipment, fluorescence- and phospho- imager and in vivo animal imaging system. Read more >>