# Machine Shop

> **NIH NIH P30** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2022 · $219,936

## Abstract

MACHINE CORE: Project Summary
 The onsite Machine Core is critical to the research productivity of the NEI Core
Investigators and the surrounding research community. The Machine Core designs and
fabricates novel research apparatuses that cannot be easily obtained by other means. The Core
has evolved to have modern capabilities in computer-aided design (CAD), 5-axis fabrication, and
3D printing, as well as significant expertise in (e.g.) using 3D magnetic resonance imaging data
to customize established base designs (shared by all labs) into custom designs for each lab's
needs and each specific animal subject. The Machine Core acts as a physical and intellectual
meeting ground to migrate apparatus design and use knowledge from one lab to another. It is
very adept at detecting synergistic research needs across labs and leveraging those for efficiency
and collaboration. As our very active research community frequently needs repair or
modification of equipment, the Machine Core has proven critical to avoiding disruptions or
delays. One cannot overstate the importance of this on-site service -- it is practically impossible
for each lab to keep redundant copies of all the equipment in their lab. The Machine Core plays
an important role training our principal investigators, graduate students and postdocs to gain
significant “hands-on” interaction that cannot occur remotely. These experiences inculcate
researchers in computer aided design (CAD), design trade-offs (e.g. materials choices,
tolerances), and the advantages and limitations of various fabrication methods, providing them
confidence to try developing innovative methodologies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10428503
- **Project number:** 5P30EY002621-45
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** James J DiCarlo
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $219,936
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-08-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10428503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10428503, Machine Shop (5P30EY002621-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10428503. Licensed CC0.

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