Project Summary/Abstract
The Shared Instrument Pool (SIP) core facility in the Department of Biochemistry at CU-Boulder provides a
combination of cutting-edge instrumentation and well-maintained basic research instrumentation (e.g., high-
speed centrifuges), the latter of which are essential for biomedical research programs on campus. SIP widely
and positively impacts many biomedical research programs at CU-Boulder, but this requires acquiring and
maintaining modern, state-of-the-art instrumentation. Doing so enables streamlined workflows, better user
support, higher throughput and productivity, and improves sample consistency, reproducibility, and data rigor.
SIP currently maintains 5 high-speed, high-volume floor centrifuges and multiple different rotors, which are used
by 12 major and many minor user labs spread over multiple departments. Many of the research projects that
utilize the high-speed centrifuged are funded by grants from NIH, and nearly all are biomedical in nature. The
current high-speed centrifuges are functional, but are all over 25 years old, which makes them difficult to maintain
and they lack the up-to-data capabilities found on modern centrifuges. This is beginning to cripple efficient, safe,
easy-to-support high throughput workflows in SIP. Therefore, funds are requested to modernize our
centrifugation infrastructure with three Avanti JXN26 high-speed, large-volume centrifuges to replace three of
our outdated models, and three rotors (two J-LITE® JLA-12.500 fixed-angle rotors and one JA30.50Ti fixed
angle rotor). The proposal has a single Specific Aim, “Streamline and improve high-speed centrifugation in
the Shared Instruments Pool”, and three Sub-Aims. 1.1 Improve user support, reproducibility, and
centrifugation safety. The current centrifuges lack onboard computers, remote connectivity, the ability to save
user profiles and customized methods, real-time run graphing, and simultaneous display of set and actual run
conditions, all of which would be provided by the new high-speed centrifuges. These functionalities will minimize
the potential for mistakes, run interruptions, sample loss, wasted time, and centrifuge damage and downtime.
Moreover, the new centrifuges will be networked for method transfer and the MobileFuge App will allow users
and SIP staff to check on runs in real time from anywhere and to receive messages concerning the runs. Finally,
the new centrifuges and new rotors will detect any mismatch between the rotor and the chosen program and can
stop a run to avoid damage. 1.2 Improve throughput. The new centrifuges will minimize the time needed to set
up runs, and enable shorter runtimes by accessing higher g-forces and better k values, which together will
decrease the time needed to achieve sample pelleting and allow higher throughput. 1.3 Minimize the
administrative effort connected to centrifugation. Currently centrifuge usage is tracked manually via paper logs.
The new centrifuges will store detailed usage data automatically, which will make usage tracking effortless and
usage-based charging more accurate. This will free staff time for more important user and instrument support.
