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BioBehavioral Lab

BioBehavioral lab

The BioBehavorial Lab is committed to supporting and promoting faculty and students’ research in the use of biobehavioral measures and physiological, genetic, and genomic approach. This lab offers the ability to collect samples (e.g., blood, saliva samples, buccal swabs), store, extract DNA, and run assays such as ELISAs to quantify hormone/cytokine levels in human or animal samples.
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Contacts

Natalie Shook, Ph.D.
Director
natalie.shook@uconn.edu

Meredith Kuzel
Laboratory Manager
meredith.kuzel@uconn.edu

Stephen Wetherell
Laboratory Technician
stephen.wetherell@uconn.edu

Location

Campus Address

Storrs Campus
Wet Lab: Charles Lewis Beach Hall Rms 127-131
Dry Lab: Jamie Homero Arjona Bldg Rm 123

Mailing Address

354 Mansfield Rd., Unit 1045
Storrs, CT 06269

What support does BBL offer researchers?

The Biobehavioral Research Laboratory aims to support the different projects of UConn faculty and students by providing:

  • Space for the recruitment of participants and data collection.
    • One room approved by EHS to collect biological samples, such as blood, saliva, and buccal swabs.
    • A second room for physical examination, behavioral assessment, or interviews.
  • Staff to organize and clean research areas following applicable UConn regulations, such as COVID-19 protocols.
  • Access to shared calendars to schedule participant appointments.
  • Guidelines on how to collect biological samples and store them.
  • Transportation of samples from the behavioral lab in Arjona Hall to our wet lab in Beach Hall for storage and processing.
  • A graduate assistant between 8:00am to 5:00 pm to assist in case of emergencies, when you are with your participant.

Which services does BBL offer for a fee?

Related to participant recruitment and data collection:

  • Bio-specimen collection (blood, saliva, buccal swabs)
  • Blood collection kits and label printing services
  • Quantitative sensory testing (QST) - pain threshold assessment with temperature, vibration, and pressure
    • Equipment use training
    • Protocol set up
  • REDCAP and Qualtrics project setup

Related to samples processing:

  • Sample pre-processing (sample aliquoting, blood components separations)
  • DNA extraction and quantification from buccal swabs, whole blood, fecal samples
  • RNA extraction from whole blood collected in PaxGene tubes
  • SNP genotyping  (TaqMan existing assays)
  • ELISA test in Ella Simple Plex (one or multiple analytes at a time), or traditional ELISAs in plate reader
  • PCR and gel electrophoresis
  • Sample storage (limited to available space)