ALERT

Dear researchers,

We are pleased to announce three new Research Resources Center (RRC) core facilities as part of our infrastructure for researchers within UIC and partner institutions. These new cores include the UIC Biorepository Core, Metabolic Phenotyping Core and Spatial and Genome Technologies Core. Each is led by a talented scientific director and faculty advisor, allowing researchers access to the most innovative tools and expertise for their research.

Recent economic and federal policy changes have introduced new challenges for university core facilities across the country. These have led to increased expenses and updated cost accounting calculations per university regulations. These new rates will take effect on July 1st, 2025, and will be reflected on the iLab and RRC websites. New service requests submitted on or after this date will be charged the new rates. Our RRC team remains ready to support investigators in finding the most cost-effective and impactful tools to meet their research needs during this period of change and in the future.

Finally, thank you for the crucial work you do to carry out successful research. The RRC remains committed to providing high quality services through the acquisition of new instruments, timely services and the expertise of our dedicated staff.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at rrcinfo@uic.edu.

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Biophysics Core

 

The Biophysics Core has moved back to the CfSB building!


Center for Structural Biology (CfSB) 
1100 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60607

 

Overview of Services

Understanding the function and structure of biomolecules is crucial in all areas of modern health and life sciences. Characterizing the structure and dynamics of these molecules is essential to understanding the basis of various cellular function, and the Biophysics Core at the Center for Structural Biology is to provide unimpeded access to state-of-the-art and well-maintained biophysics equipment.


The Biophysics Core offers three main categories of research and services: characterization of macromolecules using various biophysical instruments (Mass Photometry (MP), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), and Circular Dichroism (CD)), large-scale protein production using a multi-column AKTA FPLC, and macromolecular structural biology using X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM in collaboration.

The Biophysics Core houses a suite of various biophysical instruments and has a fully equipped wet-laboratory for molecular cloning, recombinant protein expression, and multi-step protein purification. Large-scale protein purification service is also offered to users who need purified proteins for SPR, ITC, High-Throughput Screening (HTS), and structural studies.

Hands-on training is available for long term users who want to have full access to the instruments, as well as assisted runs by a staff are offered to investigators who occasionally need to use core instruments.

Leadership

   Hyun Lee, PhD ǀ Director
  • Protein over-expression & purification (25 years, 1998-present)
  • SPR (23 years, 2001-present), ITC (6 years), CD (6 years)
  • Biochemical/biophysical (protease, kinase, TSA, FP, and so on) assays (16 years, 2008-present)
  • X-ray crystallography (~10 years, on and off during 2006-present)
  • Protein NMR (8 years, 1998-1999, 2001-2007)                   
  • https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2570-8120
 

Robel Demissie, PhD ǀ Research Specialist

  • Protein expression & purification 
  • Mass Photometry (MP)
  • Cellular Thermal Shift Assay & Enzyme Assays and Kinetics
  • Protein-protein interaction techniques (ITC, TSA, FRET, etc)
  • Circular Dichroism (CD), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (EPSR)
  • Fluorescence Spectroscopy & UV/Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Elizabeth Mulder, PhD | Postdoctoral Research Associate

  • Protein expression & purification
  • Biochemical & Biophysical Characterization of Proteins
  • HPLC, FPLC, ELISA 
  • Mammalian cell culture & Live cell microscopy
  • Fluidic Force Microscopy
  • Flow cytometry & Rheology
Qinhong (Val) Yu, PhD ǀ Research Specialist

Yuri Song ǀ Graduate Research Technologist
  • Bacterial transformation in E.coli
  • Small & Large-scale protein over-expression 
  • Protein purification 
  • DNA amplification & purification
  • Mass Photometry (MP)

 Location and Hours

Location   Hours

1100 S. Ashland Ave 

Chicago, IL  60607

  24 hours/7 Days open for the trained self-users

  Staffed: 9am - 5pm/ Mon - Fri

Links and Resources

  1. Biophysics Core Website
  2. Biophysics Core Instruments
  3. Biophysics Core FAQs
  4. Getting Started Help Site

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Hyun Lee
Director
 
312-355-5292
 
danielhl@uic.edu
 
Center for Structural Biology (CfSB)
 

Service list


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