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    Research Facilities

     

    The PMN Group houses outstanding research facilities within the heart of the Medical School at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC).

    • EXCELLENT RESEARCH LABORATORIES 

      Unveiled in 2008, a new development housing bespoke research laboratories and study areas based within the heart of the University of Nottingham's Medical School.

    • SPECIALIST LABORATORIES 

      Our Human Physiology Unit contains both exercise physiology and resting metabolism laboratories.

    • STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT 

      Including the latest physiological and molecular technologies.

    Being particularly well known for our research into human physiology and with outstanding facilities in the David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit, we are able to conduct world-leading investigations into metabolic regulation, with our team of human volunteers and specialist research staff.

    In particular we have:

    • Staff with training and experience in working to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards
    • Medically trained personnel

    Useful Links

    Meet the team

    Current studies

    Teaching facilities

    How to find us

     

    David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit

    Location: Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre (B7)

    The outstanding David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit is the home of the PMN Research Group where we conduct world-leading investigations into metabolic regulation.

    Based within the Medical School here at Nottingham, our highly skilled medical team of doctors, nurses and specialist research technicians, as well as our excellent facilities provide us with the capabilities to deliver a vast range of research studies with our team of human volunteers.

    David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit Laboratory
     
    Exercise Physiology Laboratories

    The labs are equipped with:

    • Lode cycle ergometers
    • Woodway treadmills
    • MR-compatible ergometers (cardio-step, trispect, MR ergometer pedal)
    • Breath-by-breath expiratory gas analysers
    • Isokinetic Dynamometer
    • Intramuscular electromyogram
    • Venous and capillary blood sampling analysers for analysis of lactate, glucose, lipid profile, creatine kinase, haemoglobin, haematocrit and blood gases
    • Polar heart rate monitors
    • AD Instruments
    • Automated blood pressure machines
    • Physical activity montiors (GeneActiv, Actiheart, PRO-Diary)
    • Laptops with specialist software for nutritional and MRI analysis
     
    Screening Rooms
      Our screening rooms are used to provide in-depth assesements prior to research participation and are equipped to provide capability for:
    • Venepuncture
    • Electrocardiography
    • Automated blood pressure
    • Anthropometry assessments (stadiometers, seca weigh scales, skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedence)
     
    DEXA Laboratory
    • The dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) laboratory allows the investigation of bone health and its relationship to exercise. It houses a Lunar Prodigy DEXA scanner. Our current research is using both DEXA and MRI analyses to gain insights into bone health.
     
    Resting Metabolism Laboratory
      We have a six-bed resting metabolism laboratory equipped with metabolic carts, doppler ultrasound, finometers and blood analysers.
      This lab has capability for:
    • euglycaemic clamps
    • hyperinsulinaemic clamps
    • intravenous infusion of nutrients and stable isotopes of amino acids, fatty acids and glucose
    • bed rest and immobilisation studies
    • endurance and resistance exericse training studies
    • nutritional interventions
    • conchotome biopsy, needle biopsy and micro-biopsies
    • plethysmography
     
    Sample Preparation Laboratory

    Sample preparation laboratory allows for preparation of blood, saliva and muscle analyses.

    This lab is equipped with:

    • Centrifuges
    • Microscopes for single fibre analysis
    • Fridge for storage
    • -20 and -80 freezer for sample storage.
     
    Research Gym
    • State-of-the-art gym with free weights, resistance equipment, atom watt bikes and lode ergometers providing capability for various exercise training protocols.
     
     
    Analytical Laboratory

    Analytical Laboratories

    Location: D Floor and E Floor, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre

    The PMN Group house analytical laboratories within the Medical School which allows for specialist analytical techniques to be carried out by our highly skilled technical research specialists. 

     

    Laboratory Techniques

    Our laboratories are equipped to provide capability for:

    • General Protein, DNA and RNA quantification using In-house extraction assays and Spectroscopy (Visible and UV).
    • Specific Protein quantification (detecting changes in the levels of specific protein molecules among a mixture of proteins) using Western blotting.
    • Gene expression analysis (detecting changes in the level of expression of specific genes) using Real-time PCR.
    • Live Cell Imaging (studying living cells over a time period) and Fixed Cell imaging (studying lipid accumulation in muscle cells) using Fluorescence Microscopy.
    • Metabolite Analysis using a variety of techniques including ELISAs, Magnetic Bead Flow Cytometry and In-house Radiochemical Assays.
     
     

     

     

    Physiology, Metabolism & Nutrition Research Group

    David Greenfield Human Physiology Unit
    School of Life Sciences
    Medical School
    University of Nottingham
    Nottingham, NG7 2UH