Shared Resources and Services (Cores)

VUMC has a variety of shared resources and services (also known as Cores) available to faculty and staff.  Below is a brief list and overview for commonly used cores. Links to the pull-down menu pages are available under each collapsible item. CORES services can be paid for through iLab. Directions on how to register and use iLab can be found on the faculty onboarding page.

A comprehensive list of cores can be viewed here.

The below list has been adapted from the Office of Research website.

  • The Biostatistics Collaboration Center (BCC) provides, enhances, and/or facilitates statistical collaborations involving the design, conduct, analysis or publication of biomedical research at the university. The BCC is comprised of biostatisticians and computer systems analysts from the Department of Biostatistics who are available to work with faculty on a variety of projects. They offer a wide range of highly trained experts with unique expertise for almost any collaboration. The BCC has considerable expertise in the design, conduct, and analysis of large scale clinical trials and research design for basic biomedical research. Varying levels of expertise are also available for consultation, from bachelor’s and master’s level trained biostatisticians and computer systems analysts to full professors.

    Center Manager: Sandra Hewston
    Email: sandra.hewston@vumc.org
    Website: https://www.vumc.org/biostatistics/biostatistics-collaboration-center-bcc

  • BioVU provides enabling resource for exploration of the relationships among genetic variation, disease susceptibility, and variable drug responses, and represents a key first step in moving the emerging sciences of genomics and pharmacogenomics from research tools to clinical practice.  A major goal of the resource is to generate datasets that incorporate de-identified information derived from medical records and genotype information to identify factors that affect disease susceptibility, disease progression, and/or drug response.

    BioVU partners closely with VANTAGE and VANGARD (see below) to generate and analyze genomic data from BioVU DNA samples. 

    Manager: Celeste Paris-Jones, PhD
    E-Mail: biovu@vumc.org
    Website:     https://starbrite.app.vumc.org/vdr/biovu

  • The Division of Animal Care (DAC) is the service core of the Office of Research that provides procurement, husbandry, and healthcare for experimental animals, as well as scientific/technical support for VU researchers.

    E-Mail: DACbilling@vumc.org
    Website: www.vumc.org/acup/ (VUnet password required)

  • The Flow Cytometry Shared Resource (FCSR) provides flow cytometry services to faculty, staff, and students across Vanderbilt, VUMC, and external investigators on a fee-for-service basis. The staff maintains all instruments and provides the following services: data acquisition, both by facility staff and qualified users, sorting, instruction in performing data analysis, instruction on instrumentation (analytical and cell sorting), consultation on experimental design, sample handling, staining protocols, education on basic principles of flow cytometry through seminars, lab meetings and course work.


    Managing Director: David Flaherty
    E-Mail: david.k.flaherty@vumc.org 
    Website: https://www.vumc.org/flowcytometry/

  • The Translational Pathology Shared Resource (TPSR) provides the following to all Vanderbilt Investigators:

    • Access to consented and de-identified human tissue specimens
    • Comprehensive, state of the art diagnostic, necropsy and comparative pathology services for animal model systems with specific expertise and focus on mouse models
    • Research histology including advanced techniques, immunohistochemistry, laser capture micro-dissection and tissue micro-array preparation
    • Access to experts in veterinary and human pathology


    TPSR Core Manager: Miranda Wilkes
    Email:     TPSR-Research_Histology@vumc.org
    Website: https://www.vumc.org/TPSR/

  • Vanderbilt Technologies for Advanced Genomics (VANTAGE) is a one-stop genomics research resource, including: Illumina genotyping, DNA extraction and banking, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and single cell analysis technologies, among many other specialized services. These activities are now part of an overall structure that takes full advantage of the physical co-location together with the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource in VANTAGE.  VANTAGE is also the physical laboratory for the BioVU DNA sample bank. 

    Core Manager (Biobanking/ Genotyping): Karen Beeri  | karen.beeri@vumc.org
    Core Manager (NGS Services):  Angela Jones | angela.jones.1@vumc.org
    Website: https://www.vumc.org/vantage/home

  • Vanderbilt Technologies for Advanced Genomics Analysis and Research Design (VANGARD) works with investigators to design experiments, and analyze and interpret data generated by VANTAGE.  The mission of the core is to consolidate the genomics data pipeline across Vanderbilt, allowing investigators to leverage the opportunities provided by next-generation sequencing and other genomics technologies. VANGARD operates in conjunction with VANTAGE, providing experimental design, quality assessment of data, analysis and results interpretation, and data storage to investigators, while VANTAGE provides technical services with a focus on next-generation sequencing including DNA-seq and RNA-seq. VANGARD also provides biostatistical and bioinformatics support for all genomic experiments that utilize BioVU specimens.  For small-scale projects, VANGARD uses a fee-for-service model which includes basic experimental design and quantitative analysis for genomic data generated by VANTAGE as well as data storage and backup. Large-scale projects and those that require more complex and detailed analysis may be handled collaboratively.

    Core Manager lana.m.olson@vumc.org
    Website: http://bioinfo.vanderbilt.edu/vangard/index.html 

  • Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) is Vanderbilt’s virtual home for clinical and translational research. Supported by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Office of Research and the NIH sponsored Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), the mission of the institute is to transform the way ideas and research discoveries make their way from origin to patient care. VICTR functions to help researchers and clinicians do their jobs better by providing tools and support to improve the quality of research, publications, grant writing, and training for future doctors and researchers. The VCTRS Program also provides junior faculty and fellowship level trainees who have been offered a faculty appointment who are committed to a career in clinical investigation, with a mentored research apprenticeship integrated with the didactic training of the MSCI or MPH programs.

    Email research.support.services@vumc.org
    Website: https://victr.vumc.org/