Research investigators from across the country turn to Augusta University’s Electron Microscopy and Histology Core laboratory to process their samples and perform a variety of specimen preparation services at an affordable cost.
Located in a 3,000-square-foot lab on the first floor of the Carl Sanders Research and Education Building, the Electron Microscopy and Histology Core lab processes samples for researchers at AU and all around the United States, including the Mayo Clinic, Emory University, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the University of Kentucky, MaineHealth Medical Center and the University of South Florida, to name a few.
“Having a resource like this, especially locally, right here on campus, is a really important asset for our researchers,” said Meghan McGee-Lawrence, PhD, chair of the Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy in the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “Not only can you get your samples processed, but you can actually interface directly with the people that are doing the processing and the imaging. And so, if you have specialized techniques that you need to do or if you have precious samples where you want to make sure things are done right the first time, there is a real high value for being able to interact with our experts right here on campus.”
The Core lab, which is supported by user fees, the senior vice president for research’s office, and the Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, is a full-service facility and augments research by providing specialized equipment and experienced technical staff to perform ultrastructural analyses, McGee-Lawrence said.
“The EM Histology Core is responsible for processing samples to produce histological slides for researchers,” McGee-Lawrence said. “So, if somebody has a tissue sample, for example, and they want to see what its microstructure looks like or what the cells inside of it are doing, they’ll send the samples here, and then the Core will process them, produce slides, and, in some cases, they’ll also help image them, as well.”
“Therefore, the types of images and the types of slides the Core is able to produce are a huge support for our funded grant research, for publications and ongoing research studies,” she added. “It’s a phenomenal resource.”
Supporting research with quality histology
With a staff that has decades of experience, the Core lab at Augusta University has built an outstanding reputation among colleagues across the United States, McGee-Lawrence said.
“Not only does the EM Histology Core service the needs here at Augusta University, but we’ve also done work for the University of Georgia, Emory, Georgia State University and Mercer, among others. And not just in Georgia, as well, but also around the nation,” she said.
“The reputation for this Core facility really speaks for itself,” she added. “It’s a place that people want to send their samples to because they know that they’re going to get good quality histology that can then support their research activities.”
The Core lab has proven to be an invaluable resource for researchers throughout the community and beyond, McGee-Lawrence said.
“When you submit a grant or when you submit a paper for consideration for publication, it gets evaluated by other scientists. And part of what they’re being evaluated on is the quality of the data that you show to support the claims that you make,” she said. “So, when you’ve got really strong histological data, it’s like that old saying of ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’”
“When you can see evidence of the science that you’re trying to support, and it’s coming from a reliable and well-established laboratory, that really then gives the reviewers confidence that you are on the right track,” McGee-Lawrence added. “That then leads to better scores, better chances for funding and high-impact publications that build your reputation. So, it all kind of feeds together into putting Augusta University on the map.”
Managed by Donna Kumiski, the Core lab has several experts in their field including Brendan Marshall, PhD, an expert in electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry; Libby Perry, an expert in electron microscopy; Tania Green, an expert in electron microscopy and histology; and Jing Zhao, an expert in immunohistochemistry and cryosectioning.
“The staff here is absolutely outstanding,” McGee-Lawrence said. “We have different team members that can do everything from paraffin sectioning to cryosectioning and electron microscopy. So, no matter what type of sample preparation you need to have done, this Core can do it and do it at a very high level of quality.”
The Core lab works hard to ensure researchers’ samples are handled properly, Kumiski said.
“In fact, some of the faculty that leave here and go to other universities still send us their work,” said Kumiski, who has worked in the lab for 36 years. “We definitely impact people’s research here and enable them to get grants, because we can give them publishable material to work with.”
Other agencies throughout the community also send the Core lab their samples, including Eisenhower Army Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, Wellstar MCG Health and the Georgia Cancer Center, Kumiski said.
A learning environment
The Core lab also offers a learning environment for students, McGee-Lawrence said.
“There are graduate students from all across campus who come to EM Histology Core to have their samples processed to support their dissertation research or grants,” she said. “The Core staff here is great because not only will they prep the samples, but if the students want to learn about the technology or the techniques, they’re happy to teach them that, as well.”
That is a unique situation not available at some universities, McGee-Lawrence said.
“Not every university has a Core facility like this,” she said. “And our PhD students, some of them are going to go out and become researchers themselves. So, it’s important for them to know how to do some of these techniques in case they don’t have a great resource like this in the future.”
The Core lab also offers educational opportunities to younger students throughout the Augusta area.
“Not too long ago, the Core had an eighth-grade class from Augusta Prep come through and visit the lab,” she said. “They were learning about cells in the classroom, and they could come in here and actually see those cells in real time looking at tissue slices. It was a neat way to show them the extension of the science that they’re learning in the classroom. They got to see how we deal with that as a research community and be able to see that in high definition.”
As the demand for their services is constantly growing, the Core lab staff works hard to utilize every inch of the 3,000-square-foot lab, McGee-Lawrence said.
“They’ve been great stewards of the space that they’ve been given,” she said. “There is always a critical eye toward how things are organized and how the space is being used and how can it be optimized. They use every square inch. It translates into the fact that you’re seeing that pay off in terms of more productivity, more customers and, again, an increasing national and international reputation.”
Building a healthier Georgia
Earlier this month, Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp introduced a budget that includes $99.8 million in funding for a new translational research building on Augusta University’s Health Sciences Campus.
The proposed 150,000-square-foot research building is a vital project that will enhance the research capabilities and expand Augusta University’s impact across Georgia.
A new research building will also provide modern laboratory spaces, advanced equipment and updated technology infrastructure, ensuring researchers have the necessary tools to support the continued growth of the groundbreaking research at Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia.
“This new building will only help enhance the great work that is already happening at MCG and help retain and recruit top scientists and physician-scientists,” said MCG Dean David Hess, MD. “There’s also a halo effect because medical students and residents want to train where they have access to rich research opportunities.”
“The best want to learn from the best,” he added. “This building is another step toward guaranteeing we can continue to bring the best here to MCG and that the discoveries they go on to make and the new treatments and cures they find continue to ensure better, healthier lives for the people of Georgia and beyond.”
Lawmakers have already begun holding hearings on the governor’s budget proposals.
This past week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, which is chaired by State Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta, heard a presentation by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue about the governor’s budget.
Perdue said he was pleased to see the $99.8 million in proposed funding for the design and construction of the new research building included in the budget for Augusta University and MCG.
“That represents the state’s fully funded commitment toward the project, which is a total project cost of $146 million,” Perdue said. “Augusta University is kicking in their part of about 30 percent of that total with $46.4 million of institutional and philanthropic fundings to supplement the project.”
“I want to tell you, you ought to be proud of the citizens and the companies in Augusta for having stepped up and done their part on this project,” he added. “I think that’s really what encouraged them to put that whole amount in there and get it done so we can get it built more quickly.”
The state-of-the-art research facility will also help continue to attract top-tier researchers to MCG, which will benefit the entire state of Georgia, Perdue said.
“The new building really deals with attracting the Georgia Research Alliance Scholars. They do amazing research over there, as you already know, and this will continue to attract more,” he said. “This kind of building also helps us collaborate with other institutions across the state. And I’m hoping it will be critical to building a health ecosystem right here in Georgia beginning with MCG.”
McGee-Lawrence said she is excited for the future of the Core lab and Augusta University.
“This is a great university, and it’s a great department,” she said. “We’re really proud of the services that we can offer to the AU community, as well as other universities in the state of Georgia and beyond.”