The Bio-Analytical Redox Biology (BARB) Core provides state-of-the-art services in mitochondrial metabolism, oxidative stress, psychological and physiological stress assessment research in diabetes, obesity, exercise, pediatric neonatology, cancer, aging, optometry, microbiology, neurobiology, nutrition, pain, psychology, urology, and cardiometabolic disease research on a fee-for-service basis. The BARB Core has provided services to over 350 UAB and external principal investigators (PIs) since its inception in 2008 and provides a combination of services not available through any other UAB cores or regional universities. The BARB Core serves as a hub to facilitate and promote the development of multi-disciplinary research projects among independently funded research programs at UAB, nationally and worldwide.

The BARB Core is a Diabetes Research Center Metabolic and Redox Sub Core (NIDDK P30DK079626) as well as a UAB Institutional Research Pilot Core. We are also supported by several UAB Centers: Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NIDDK P30DK056336), Center for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH UL1TR003096), Center for Free Radical Biology and UAB Center for Exercise Medicine.
 

Objectives

• To provide services in mitochondrial bioanalytical and damage analyses and oxidative stress assessment using state-of-the-art research facilities, specialized expertise, and quality control.
• To provide access to centralized resources and our expert staff, substantially reducing equipment, personnel labor costs, and investigator time commitment.
• To provide opportunities to learn, train and develop new research methodologies through initial consultations, workshops and one-on-one on training to enable optimal usage and growth of the various services of this core.
• To keep our investigators apprised of current advances in bioenergetics, metabolism, and oxidant stress quantification through informative emails, our website and social media, to ensure we remain at the forefront of ‘gold-standard’ methodologies.
• To continue to develop, design and optimize cutting-edge, pioneering techniques and protocols that allow the investigator to extend capabilities, precision, and foster multidisciplinary collaborations.
• To provide a unique portfolio of services that does not duplicate any other UAB core facility to strengthen and align with UAB’s Research Mission “to contribute new knowledge and growth of the economies of the city and state.”
• To use feedback to continue to maintain high standards of quality, improve and increase services offered, as well as adapt to the changing needs of the user base.