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Electron Microscopy Core Laboratory
Policies
The Electron Microscopy Core Director and staff are committed to the mission of providing high quality ultrastructural analysis at an affordable cost to research investigators at the Medical College of Georgia and external biomedical research facilities. The following paragraphs describe the policies that have been adopted to accomplish that mission.
Consultation
We encourage all users, but particularly new users, to contact the staff to discuss the objectives and requirements of the ultrastructural studies they intend to conduct before embarking on those studies. The Core is well equipped to provide ultrastructural analysis of biological material and the Core staff has many years of experience. During the initial consultation the staff and investigator will discuss the investigator’s objectives, the respective responsibilities of the investigator and the staff in accomplishing the work, the methods to be used, a time frame in which the ultrastructural results could be completed and the potential cost of the studies.
Role of the Core Staff
As a full service facility the Core provides investigators with an appropriate fixative, processes the tissue as required for the type of analysis requested, cuts sections of the tissue as necessary for light or transmission electron microscopy, examines and records images of the specimen and provides investigators with digital images. Each study is customized, frequently at several steps in the process, to meet the specific needs of each investigator. The Core’s services are most productive when there is frequent and candid communication between investigator and the Core staff.
Use of Core Facilities and Instrumentation
Instrumentation in the Core is sophisticated, expensive and in most cases the only equipment of its type at MCG. To protect the department’s investment in the facility and to insure the Core can provide its services to the entire research community, use of the facilities and equipment is restricted to Core staff and investigators trained and certified by the Core staff. The majority of investigators prefer to receive results of their research studies in a timely and cost-effective manner rather than learn how to process specimens and operate the instruments that provide those results. The staff will train investigators or members of their laboratory in the use of the equipment and specimen preparation when the investigator determines that is necessary. Institutional policy prohibits use of the Core facilities except during normal work hours (8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday) when Core staff is available to assist if that becomes necessary.
Investigators must schedule the use of major instrumentation with the Core staff at least 24 hrs prior to the intended use. Appointments may be canceled no later than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time without incurring a charge. Investigators may be charged for the scheduled time if they do not keep the appointment.
Fees
The Core is required to charge fees to recover the cost of providing its services. Our fees are among the lowest charged by any similarly equipped or supported facility in the nation. We have three fee schedules for MCG affiliated faculty, non-MCG affiliated academic faculty, and non-academic or commercial fees. Fees are routinely reviewed by the Core Director and staff and the institution and adjusted as necessary. Investigators receive a copy of our fees during the initial consultation and an estimate of cost of services each time specimens are submitted to the Core.