# Core H Basic Research Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2023 · $214,571

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Basic Research Core (Core H)
The technological advancements of the last two decades in the area of biomedical research have been nothing
short of breathtaking and are propelling the generation of detailed knowledge at an ever increasing speed.
Access to these technologies is key for cutting-edge research programs, however, no single laboratory can
cover the breadth of the now available high-end research tools and provide complete expertise.
The mission of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Basic
Research Core (BRC) is thus to maximize the benefits of key technology by providing the necessary
instrumentation and services within a well-organized, centralized, facility that is capable of handling potentially
infectious material.
For this purpose, we have used the last funding period to expand the high-tech service portfolio of the core
from a flow cytometry centered operation to an operation that now also offers access to services for ATAC-seq,
RNA-seq and kinome analysis. To assist those without laboratory experience or access, we provide sample
preparation services for all methods. The BRC has installed a task-specific bioinformatics pipeline that QCs all
data sets and provides network analysis based signal pathway description/identification or target prioritization
for interested users. More detailed analysis can be provided by UAB's Bioinformatics Institute.
To optimize the synergy between the service components and reduce redundancy, we further included the
operation of the previous virology core into the BRC. This component provides a tangible collection of HIV
clones, lenti- and retroviral vectors as well as engineered cell lines that were generated for projects by UAB
researchers and the engagement of the core leaders Drs. Kappes and Ochsenbauer with national HIV-1
research initiatives such as CHAVI or IAVI. Lastly, we seized a unique opportunity provided by the
establishment of the HIV+ to HIV+ transplant donor program at UAB, one of only 13 such programs in the
USA, and established a HIV+ donor tissue procurement and processing facility. Reliable access to lymphoid
and other tissues from HIV+ donors will massively expand our understanding of immune function and actual
dysfunction in HIV patients. In its current form, the BRC now provides complete tissue, tool and analytical
services supply chain to our users.
The critical impact of the BRC is demonstrated by its productivity. During the last funding period, support by the
BRC helped CFAR researchers that had HIV-related NIH funding publish over 130 papers. Obviously, the
number of supported publications is much higher, as the components of the BRC not only supported 38 HIV-
related grants (and 10 developmental awards), but also mostly through the flow cytometry component, 80 non-
HIV-related grants. The core supported a total of 86 Principal investigators that were funded by 13 different
NIH institutes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10634603
- **Project number:** 5P30AI027767-35
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** OLAF KUTSCH
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $214,571
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-03-01 → 2024-06-06

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10634603

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10634603, Core H Basic Research Core (5P30AI027767-35). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10634603. Licensed CC0.

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