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 Ahead of its Time.
Suzannah Miller, Biofrontiers Advanced Light Microscopy Core
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Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility: Past to Present
Around 1990, three Principal Investigators (PIs) from the Biochemistry Division in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry pooled their resources to create a shared resource space. It began with a microscope, two incubators, and two biosafety cabinets, all donated by the three PIs involved. Together, they hired a technician and student helper to support the facility with media preparation, serum testing, biosafety cabinet maintenance, and training of new users. As new faculty were hired, more researchers found a need to use cell culture in their research and benefitted from the availability of the facility. When the number of investigators grew to approximately ten labs, the Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility was formalized. It currently has over 100 active users working in 19 different labs.
Growing Green
Because of the collaborative nature of the Biochemistry Cell Culture Facility, major milestones ​in the conservation of energy and materials have been made in conjunction with the efforts of CU Green Labs. A case study published in April 2018 revealed that the University saved over $800,000 in new construction costs (based on 2016 figures) in the building of the shared facility versus individual labs all having separate rooms. In addition, a yearly cost-avoidance of about $58,000 in maintenance, operation, utility, plug load and ventilation is realized by combining research into a shared space.
The facility participates in an ethanol recycling program where humidified, uncontaminated ethanol used by ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research in cold traps is diluted to 70% ethanol and used to decontaminate work surfaces and materials. The cost savings is around $1700/year. The recycling of #2 and #4 plastic wrappers, in addition to paperboard, cardboard and office paper, has diverted a significant waste stream from ending up in landfills.
