Conducting research and obtaining external funding often requires access to advanced infrastructure. UBC researchers can access shared research platforms, offered in partnership by the VPRI and various deparments, or other shared research facilities.
Shared research platforms and facilities at UBC offer access to a variety of core facilities and tools including cutting-edge instruments, advanced technologies, and data processing and analysis.
Need to identify or locate a facility or service? Want to understand the capability of a specific instrument? Experts and research managers in the facilities listed below can provide the help you need.
For more information on shared research facilities at UBC or to enquire about listing your facility, please contact Marie-Claude Fortin, shared research facilities manager.
For a list of Shared Research Platforms available specifically on the Okanagan Campus, please visit here.
For an inventory of CFI-Funded infrastructure available for use by researchers from UBC sites, other institutions, non-profits and industry, please visit the Database here.
UBC Shared platforms
Shared Research Platforms are facilities funded jointly by VPRI and Faculties and departments for the purpose of offering specialized research services to the UBC and external research community.
PLANT CARE SERVICES
Plant Care Services offers coordinated access and services to two research greenhouses and field locations.
One greenhouse is located on the main campus at West Mall and Stores Road. The second greenhouse is on South Campus, near the Botanical Garden’s nursery at 3929 Wesbrook Mall.
Field services will be available at the Totem station on West Mall and near the South Campus greenhouse.
Contact Melina Biron, greenhouse research manager, for initial help to work in greenhouses or field locations.
RESEARCH WITH ANIMALS
The Animal Care and Use Program ensures humane animal care and researcher compliance to the mandatory guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. This university-wide program covers ethics approval, animal care and housing, breeding, veterinary care, facilities management, training and specialized procedures.
Contact Suzanne Richardson for ethical reviews.
View the Animal Care website resource for planning your research.
COMPUTING SERVICES FOR BIG DATA
Advanced Research Computing (ARC) offers free services to help researchers with computational needs that standard computing infrastructure cannot handle. Services include consultation for project planning, experimental design, data analysis, grant proposals, and access to high performance computing and data management infrastructure.
Initial contact information: arc.support@ubc.ca
Location: Gerald McGavin Building, 112A – 2386 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
SEQUENCING AND BIOINFORMATICS
The Sequencing and Bioinformatics Consortium offers reagents and supplies, consultations, training and access to sequencing services (project planning, experimental design, sample and library preparation, sequencing and genotyping) and support in analyzing and understanding results. Next-Gen or high-throughput sequencing is executed using Illumina technology for genome sequencing and transcriptome profiling while Sanger sequencing is offered for small projects requiring long reads and genotyping for determining unique features of an individual’s DNA sequences.
Initial contact: Sunita Sinha
Location: Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, 3124 – 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
finder: containment level 3 facility
The Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research (FINDER) at UBC Vancouver: a shared research platform for Containment Level 3 scientific experiments.
Initial contact information: Dean Airey, Senior Technician, 604-827-4807
Location: Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
High Resolution Macromolecular Electronic Microscopy
HRMEM is an assisted use facility providing very high resolution 3D images of biological molecules. Our services include sample preparation, data collection, and consultation on image processing and analysis. We welcome users from UBC, other academic institutions, and corporate users.
Initial contact information: Claire Atkinson, Facility Manager
Location: Life Sciences Institute, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3
OTHER SHARED FACILITIES
Shared Facilities are available for use by UBC faculty. They are not affiliated with the VPRI.
PACIFIC CENTRE FOR ISOTOPIC AND
GEOCHEMICAL RESEARCH
BC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL –
CORE FACILITIES
IMAGING FOR MATERIALS AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MASS SPECTOMETRY AND PROTEOMICS SERVICES
GREENING YOUR LAB
CLEAN ROOM FOR MICRO AND NANO ELECTRONICS
STATISTICAL SUPPORT FOR BIOLOGICAL,
GENOMIC AND HEALTH SCIENCES