COMMON INSTRUMENTATION AREA & SERVICES (CIAS)

RCMI计划总体上，特别是CIAS在UCC取得了巨大的成功。CIAS 在提供必要的基础设施方面发挥了关键作用，以发展强大的研究项目，否则在这所小型大学是不可能的。特别是，CIAS是主要设备的核心区域，如超离心机、冷冻机、光谱仪、伽马计数器等，以及集中式细胞培养设施。CIAS促进设备共享，集中维护设备，并为所有项目的设备(不仅仅是位于CIAS的设备)提供维修。目前，UCC有两名技术人员负责满足科学界的需求。1)负责常见设备维护的电子技术人员，具有设计、制造简单电子设备、用计算机硬件和软件解决简单问题的知识。2)拥有各种技能的机器车间操作员/杂工，从建造电生理记录室等精密工作到在新设施安装管道等一般维修工作。对于该机构的研究的维持和未来的发展，CIAS仍然是不可或缺的。在这项建议中，我们要求拨款，以继续保存和提升RCMI最初资助的现有设施和资源，包括共用仪器、电子设备车间和机械车间。此外，我们要求提供资金，通过租用实验室空间的拖车来暂时解决研究实验室空间有限的问题，同时确保为UCC永久增加一名成员提供资金。以上详述的要素构成了我们维持、加强和扩大科学研究基础设施的计划的基础。

The RCMI program in general and the CIAS in particular have been a great success at UCC. CIAS has had a pivotal role in providing the infrastructure necessary to develop strong research programs that would otherwise be impossible at this small university. In particular, CIAS is a core area hosing major equipment such as ultracentrifuges, freezers, spectrophotometers, gamma counters, etc, as well as the centralized cell culture facility. CIAS fosters equipment sharing, centralizes maintenance of equipment and provides repair for the equipment of all the projects (not just the equipment located in the CIAS). There are currently two technicians to see to the needs of the scientific community at UCC. 1) An electronics technician who is in charge of the maintenance of the common equipment and knowledgeable in designing and producing simple electronic devices and solving simple problems with computer hardware and software. 2) A machine shop operator/handyman who has skills ranging from precision work like building electrophysiological recording chambers to general repairs such as installing plumbing in new facilities. The CIAS continues to be indispensable for the maintenance and future development of research at this institution. In this proposal, we request funding to continue to conserve and upgrade the existing facilities and resources initially funded by RCMI including the common instrumentation, the electronics shop and the machine shop. In addition, we request money to provide a temporary solution to the problem of limitations of space for research laboratories by renting trailers for laboratory space while we secure funding for a permanent addition to the UCC. The elements detailed above form the basis of our plan to maintain, fortify and expand our infrastructure for scientific research.