Lentiviral technology for gene or siRNA transfection. CAN has a BSL2 laboratory and has developed the techniques for use of lentivirus to deliver gene constructs in cell culture or in vivo to animals.

Cell culture: CAN has a wide range of cell lines available including neuronal cell lines, adipocytes, muscle, and liver. We also have expertise in various transfection protocols.

Calcium imaging.

 

Patch clamp recording.

 

Multiplex assays: CAN has a BioPlex-200 multiplex instrument that will allow simultaneous assays of a wide range of products including hormones, cytokines, metabolic markers, and inflammatory markers. 

Stereotaxic surgery and injections into rats and mice.

Whole animal NMR for body composition of rats and mice.  We are happy to provide use of this equipment after appropriate training for anyone wishing to measure body composition in conscious animals.

Molecular approaches: CAN has facilities for and expertise in Real time PCR, semiquantitative PCR, Western and Northern blots.

Tissue suprafusion: A 12 channel Brandel suprafusion system for suprafusion of tissue sections and sequential collection of effluents.

Regulation of feeding behavior, body weight, body composition and metabolism. Rat and mouse laboratory models can be used for studies of drugs, nutraceuticals or supplements on food intake, macronutrient choice body weight gain and body fat deposition, hormone and metabolite levels. Materials of interest can be given in the food, by gavage, by peripheral injection or by central injection into specific brain regions

Lipid analytics: Quantitative analysis of over 60 fatty acid species from all biological classes via GC-FID and GC-MS.

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Identification of specific proteins or their mRNAs in tissue slices or cells.

Clinical Nutrition Services

• Menu development for controlled feeding studies. Menus are developed meeting specified macro- or micro-nutrient requirements across multiple calorie levels.


•  Design and execution of diet counseling based nutrition interventions. These studies use trained dietitians to instruct participants to either maintain current diet intakes or to achieve specified changes in macro- or micro-nutrients.


• Design and execution of controlled-feeding based nutrition interventions. These studies provide the maximum level of control in dietary intake. All foods are prepared to specified nutrient targets and provided to the participants under supervised conditions.


•  Assessment of dietary intake. Food frequency questionnaires, food intake records and/or 24-hour diet recalls are used to assess habitual dietary intakes and dietary patterns.


• Clinical assessments of health-related endpoints. A variety of assessments and assays are available either through our own clinic and laboratories, or through contracts with collaborators.