Theodore S. Cooper Surgical Research Institute
The Theodore S. Cooper Surgical Research Institute is a 12,000-square-foot hub for surgical education and basic science research. Its numerous core facilities foster collaboration and maximize cooperation among faculty, staff, surgical residents and students, as well as several University science departments.
Surgical Institute Features
Small-Animal Operating Room
The small-animal operating room provides support for up to three surgical cases at a time. Equipment includes blood gas and electrolyte analyzers, respirators and pressure monitors.
Large-Animal Operating Room
The large-animal operating room is designed for up to four large-animal surgical cases at a time. Working with the University’s Department of Comparative Medicine, surgeons provide anesthesia, technical support and postoperative monitoring.
The room is also used for training in:
- Advanced trauma
- Life support
- Advanced laparoscopic surgery (general surgery house staff)
- Physiology laboratory procedures (second-year medical students)
Microsurgical Operating Room
The microsurgery operating room contains two Zeiss operating microscopes and supporting equipment. A wide variety of microsurgical instruments and expertise are available to provide additional training to interested individuals.
Biochemical Laboratories
Numerous laboratories are available for measuring a broad spectrum of biochemical and molecular parameters. Biochemical support includes:
- Wide range of eicosanoids (prostaglandins and leukotrienes)
- High-energy phosphates
- Second messenger signaling pathways
- Calcium homeostasis
- Immune function studies
- Western and northern blotting
Electrophysiological Laboratories
Electrophysiological studies are accomplished using two different techniques:
- Unicellular electrophysiological studies can use patch clamping.
- Electrophysiological studies on confluent cell monolayers can be addressed using Ussing chamber technology, which may be further modified to accommodate for transepithelial permeability studies.
Radiation Studies
The licensed, fully-equipped radiation laboratory has the beta, gamma and liquid scintillation counters needed to support all radionuclide experiments.
Cell Culture Facility
The state-of-the-art cell culture facility accommodates many researchers who rely heavily on cell culture technology. Laminar flow hoods and cell culture incubators ensure the continuous availability of primary and immortalized cell cultures. At present, the facility maintains 25 cell lines, which are supplied to investigators on an as-needed basis. These include:
- Human surface mucous cells
- Rat small intestinal cells
- Rat hippocampal neurons
- Rat intestinally-derived smooth muscle cells
- Human colonocytes
- Human scar-derived fibroblasts
Microscopy
Since many of the cell culture studies require advanced microscopic imaging techniques, rich collaborations have secured access to both standard transmission (STEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopes. Confocal laser imaging microscopy is also available for studies requiring three-dimensional reconstructions or real-time calcium imaging of subcellular calcium localization.
Key Researchers
- Richard D. Bucholz, M.D.
Image-guided surgery - Eddy C. Hsueh, M.D.
Immunobiology of melanoma - Carl Freeman, M.D.
Clinical critical care outcomes