Boise State University’s Convergent Engineering and Biomolecular Science (CEBS) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) continues to expand its support for research innovation through the Fabrication, Characterization, and Testing (FaCT) Core facilities and recharge centers, providing services and technical expertise to faculty, students, and researchers across the Boise metropolitan area.
Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Center
The Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB) recharge center relocated from the Micron Engineering Center to the Ruch Engineering Building in room 104A. The centerpiece of the upgraded facility is a state-of-the-art JPK NanoWizard V BioAFM/Zeiss LSM 900 confocal microscope system, one of only four such systems west of the Mississippi River. Funded through a $1.4 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) led by College of Engineering faculty members Sophia Theodossiou, Gunez Uzer, and Paul Davis, this advanced equipment allows co-localized fluorescence imaging and nanomechanical studies of live cells and tissues under precise environmental conditions.
Additional assets in the BMMB include a cell culture suite, FlexCell bioreactor, simulated microgravity clinostat, standalone Zeiss LSM 900 confocal microscope, and micro-computed tomography system. Researchers may contact lab manager Sean Howard by email at seanhoward@boisestate.edu for access or more information.
Research Machining and Engineering
The Research Machining and Engineering (RME) facility continues to provide crucial technical support as a campus-wide fee-for-service unit. The RME facility and team offer a diverse range of services from mechanical design and fabritcation to electrical repair and CAD drawing development. The RME team includes licensed engineers, expert technicians, a machinist, and trained student staff. Notably, the team is certified to handle complex repairs on lab equipment such as laser cutters, vacuum pumps, and even refrigeration systems. Initial consultations are free, with subsidized rates supporting broader campus access. To explore RME services, contact Director Sarah Haight by email at sarahhaight@boisestate.edu.
Boise State’s FaCT Core facilities, located within the College of Engineering, remain central to COBRE’s mission of fostering interdisciplinary research, accelerating scientific discovery, and providing equitable access to cutting-edge tools for Boise State and the surrounding biomedical research communities.