What support does BBL offer researchers?
The Biobehavioral Research Laboratory aims to support the different projects of UConn faculty and students by providing:
- Space for the recruitment of participants and data collection.
- One room approved by EHS to collect biological samples, such as blood, saliva, and buccal swabs.
- A second room for physical examination, behavioral assessment, or interviews.
- Staff to organize and clean research areas following applicable UConn regulations, such as COVID-19 protocols.
- Access to shared calendars to schedule participant appointments.
- Guidelines on how to collect biological samples and store them.
- Transportation of samples from the behavioral lab in Arjona Hall to our wet lab in Beach Hall for storage and processing.
- A graduate assistant between 8:00am to 5:00 pm to assist in case of emergencies, when you are with your participant.
Which services does BBL offer for a fee?
Related to participant recruitment and data collection:
- Bio-specimen collection (blood, saliva, buccal swabs)
- Blood collection kits and label printing services
- Quantitative sensory testing (QST) - pain threshold assessment with temperature, vibration, and pressure
- Equipment use training
- Protocol set up
- REDCAP and Qualtrics project setup
Related to samples processing:
- Sample pre-processing (sample aliquoting, blood components separations)
- DNA extraction and quantification from buccal swabs, whole blood, fecal samples
- RNA extraction from whole blood collected in PaxGene tubes
- SNP genotyping (TaqMan existing assays)
- ELISA test in Ella Simple Plex (one or multiple analytes at a time), or traditional ELISAs in plate reader
- PCR and gel electrophoresis
- Sample storage (limited to available space)