How Do Core Labs Support Life Science Research?

Scientific research always seems to demands far more equipment and resources than we anticipate. While some experiments require only a few instruments and a bit of bench space, many hinge on access to specialized, high-tech equipment that can be difficult—and expensive—to acquire. Expanding your lab or purchasing new instruments outright isn’t always financially viable, leaving researchers searching for alternatives.

Fortunately, core facilities—also known as core labs or shared resource laboratories—offer a practical, cost-effective solution. These centralized research hubs provide access to cutting-edge technologies and high-throughput equipment, empowering scientists to conduct advanced research without the burden of hefty capital investments.

In this article, we’ll talk about core labs: what they are, the services they offer, and how they can help drive your research forward. We’ll also discuss leasing equipment as an alternative when core labs don’t provide the specific instrumentation you need.

What Is a Core Lab?

A core lab or core laboratory provides researchers with access to highly specialized lab equipment and expertise, which may not be available in their own lab. Core labs are often located in research institutes, universities, or research centers and offer a wide range of services, including genomics, proteomics, microscopy, and flow cytometry.

Core facilities are typically staffed by trained professionals who have in-depth knowledge of the lab’s instrumentation and the methods it supports. These experts can assist researchers with sample preparation, data analysis, and assay design, helping ensure high-quality results and reproducible experiments.

Specialized Equipment & Expertise

Core labs provide access to cutting-edge technologies, including:

• Next-generation sequencing (NGS)
• Mass spectrometry
• Electron microscopy
• NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance)
• Advanced bioinformatics platforms
• Tissue culture facilities
• High-performance computing for complex data analysis

Researchers working in structural biology, quantitative studies, or biomolecular profiling can utilize core facilities for characterization of molecules and optimization of experimental protocols. In many cases, core labs also support advanced RNA analysis, stem cell research, and transgenic animal models.

Access to Specialized Techniques & Equipment

One of the greatest advantages of core labs is their ability to provide access to highly specialized equipment and techniques that may not be readily available in individual research labs. Whether your work involves flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, or advanced microscopy, core labs offer the state-of-the-art tools and expert guidance necessary to conduct high-quality research.

For example:

• Flow cytometry: Used to analyze the physical and chemical properties of cells in a fluid stream, flow cytometry plays a crucial role in cell sorting, immunophenotyping, and apoptosis analysis. Many core labs maintain up-to-date flow cytometers and cell sorters, ensuring access to the latest technology for conducting these experiments.
• Mass spectrometry: A powerful technique for measuring the mass and concentration of molecules, mass spectrometry is widely used in proteomics, drug metabolism studies, and environmental analysis. Core labs provide high-resolution mass spectrometers and ionization sources, along with expert support for handling complex sample analysis.
• Microscopy: Essential for visualizing biological structures, core facilities offer a range of light, confocal, and electron microscopes, supporting research in cell counting, tissue imaging, and organelle identification. The ability to access high-resolution imaging systems enables researchers to conduct detailed cellular and molecular studies.

Beyond just equipment, core labs also provide expert training and technical support, helping researchers master these complex techniques and maximize the quality of their data.

Training & Expert Support

Access to cutting-edge equipment is only part of the value that core facilities provide—perhaps equally important is the training and expert guidance available to researchers.

• Hands-on training: Facility staff are highly experienced in the techniques they support and offer structured training programs for new users, ensuring researchers can operate instruments effectively and independently.
• Experimental design & troubleshooting: Beyond equipment operation, core lab personnel assist with experimental setup, protocol optimization, and troubleshooting issues that arise during research.
• Data analysis support: Understanding how to interpret complex datasets is just as critical as collecting the data itself. Many core facilities provide guidance on data processing, statistical analysis, and software tools to help researchers extract meaningful insights from their results.

Whether you're new to a technique or refining a specialized experiment, the combination of advanced equipment and expert support makes core labs an indispensable resource for life science researchers.

Shared Resources

Core labs offer access to shared resources like:

• Common reagents
• Cell lines
• Experimental animals
• Sample preparation services
• High-throughput equipment

Having these resources readily available reduces the time and cost required for research and enables collaboration within the broader research community. For instance, genomics or proteomics research often requires the use of shared DNA sequencing tools, proteomics analyzers, and flow cytometry instruments that can be difficult to maintain in individual labs.

Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing

Core labs foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between researchers across disciplines. They often serve as hubs for interdisciplinary projects, bringing together scientists from various fields—such as biochemistry, biomedical engineering, and clinical trials—to tackle complex research questions.

The collaborative environment nurtured by core facilities also promotes data sharing, particularly for large-scale studies such as profiling of biomolecular interactions or transgenic model development. Whether you are focused on clinical research or conducting preclinical work, core labs enable you to tap into a vast network of experts and resources.

What Types of Research Do Core Labs Support?

Core facilities can support a broad range of research areas, including:

• Basic research: Investigating fundamental biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels.
• Translational research: Bridging the gap between lab discoveries and clinical applications, such as developing new therapies or diagnostic tools.
• Clinical trials: Providing support for the analysis of drug safety, efficacy, and pharmacodynamics.

Researchers focused on areas like genomics, flow cytometry, proteomics, and mass spectrometry often rely on core labs to conduct high-quality experiments. Additionally, histology, microscopy, and electron microscopy services can be critical for visualizing tissues and cells in drug development and disease modeling.

Core Lab Services Provided

Core labs offer a wide range of services tailored to specific scientific needs, including:

• Advanced imaging: Utilizing tools like MRI, electron microscopy, and NMR to capture detailed images and molecular structures.
• Genomics & proteomics: Services such as DNA sequencing, RNA analysis, protein characterization, and mass spectrometry.
• Flow cytometry: Sorting and analyzing cells or particles in clinical research and translational research.
• Data analysis & bioinformatics: Providing support for biostatistics, bioinformatics, and data management to analyze experimental results.
• Animal care & imaging: Supporting research with transgenic animals, animal imaging, and preclinical model development.

Benefits & Drawbacks of Using Core Labs

The Benefits:

• Cost-effectiveness: Core labs offer access to expensive instrumentation without the need for large capital investments.
• High-quality results: Researchers can benefit from cutting-edge technologies and the expertise of core lab staff, ensuring reliable and reproducible data.
• Collaborative opportunities: Core labs foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cross-disciplinary partnerships.
• Flexibility: The availability of high-throughput and specialized equipment can allow researchers to expand their capabilities.

The Drawbacks:

• Cost: While more affordable than purchasing equipment, core labs often charge fees, which can add up, especially for large-scale projects.
• Scheduling: Core labs are in high demand, and it may be challenging to book time with equipment when needed.
• Dependence on external facilities: Relying on a core facility for critical experiments can lead to delays if equipment is unavailable or overbooked.

When Should You Use a Core Lab?

Core labs are an ideal solution when your research requires specialized equipment, technical expertise, or high-quality data collection but your lab lacks the necessary resources to support these capabilities in-house. Whether you're working with expensive instrumentation, high-throughput data collection, or advanced analytical techniques, core facilities provide cost-effective access to cutting-edge tools without the financial burden of purchasing and maintaining them yourself.

You should consider using a core lab when:

• Your lab lacks the necessary equipment: If your research depends on instruments like mass spectrometers, high-resolution microscopes, or flow cytometers that are too costly to purchase, a core facility offers a practical alternative.
• You require specialized expertise: Core lab staff provide training, experimental guidance, and troubleshooting support, ensuring that your experiments yield accurate and reliable data.
• You need high-throughput capabilities: Certain studies, such as genomics or proteomics research, require large-scale data collection and analysis, which core labs are specifically designed to handle.
• You’re working on short-term or exploratory projects: If you only need access to specialized instrumentation for a limited time, a core facility is a more cost-effective option than investing in new equipment.

Core Labs vs. Leasing Lab Equipment

If your research requires frequent or long-term access to specific instruments, leasing may be a better alternative. Leasing provides flexibility, scalability, and exclusive access to the equipment you need, making it a great option when:

• The core lab does not have the equipment you need or the available instruments do not meet your specifications.
• You need constant, unrestricted access to an instrument rather than sharing time with other researchers.
• Your project requires custom configurations or modifications that a core lab cannot provide.

Both core labs and equipment leasing play essential roles in optimizing research, and the best choice depends on your budget, project duration, and specific instrumentation needs.

Is It Better to Use a CRO or a Core Lab?

Whether it is better to use a core lab facility or contract research organization (CRO) will depend on your specific research needs and circumstances. Both core labs and CROs can provide valuable services to researchers, but they have different strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for you will depend on factors such as the type of research you are conducting, the availability of equipment and expertise, and the cost and time required to obtain the services you need.

Using a core lab can be a good option if you need access to specialized equipment and expertise on a regular basis, and if you have the time and resources to conduct your experiments in the core lab.

On the other hand, using a CRO can be a good option if you are conducting clinical research or drug development, and if you need access to a range of services that are not available in your own lab. CROs are companies that provide a range of services to support drug development and clinical research. CROs generally offer services like drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory affairs, and data management.

Leasing When Core Labs Don’t Have the Right Equipment

Core labs provide access to specialized, high-tech instrumentation, but there may be times when the equipment you need isn’t available, lacks necessary capabilities, or is fully booked. In these situations, leasing lab equipment can be a cost-effective, flexible solution that ensures your research stays on track.

Leasing allows researchers to:

• Access cutting-edge technologies without the high upfront costs of purchasing.
• Secure specialized equipment like mass spectrometers, advanced microscopes, or high-throughput sequencers tailored to specific needs.
• Stay current with evolving technology by upgrading as advancements emerge.
• Preserve capital and avoid long-term commitments, making it ideal for startups, academic labs, and growing research programs.

Leasing for Core Facilities

Just as individual researchers can benefit from leasing, core facilities themselves can expand their offerings through equipment leasing. Instead of waiting for grant approvals or large capital investments, core labs can:

• Quickly expand their available instrumentation to meet growing demand.
• Provide researchers with the latest technology without the risk of outdated equipment.
• Offer a more diverse range of services to attract additional users and funding opportunities.

By leveraging leasing options, core facilities can enhance their capabilities, ensuring that scientists and researchers have access to the most advanced tools needed to push scientific discovery forward.

Final Thoughts: Maximizing Research Resources

Core labs are essential hubs for life science research, offering access to specialized equipment, expert guidance, and collaborative opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Whether you need mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, or next-generation sequencing, these facilities provide a cost-effective alternative to purchasing expensive instrumentation outright.

However, when core labs don’t have the necessary equipment, leasing can be a strategic way to fill the gap—for both individual researchers and the facilities themselves. By exploring all available options, including shared resources, partnerships, and equipment leasing, scientists can accelerate their research while optimizing budgets. Whatever approach you choose, ensuring access to the right tools and technologies is key to advancing life science discoveries.

Whatever approach you choose, ensuring access to the right tools and technologies is key to advancing life science discoveries. If a core facility doesn’t have the equipment you need, or if you require consistent access to specialized instruments, leasing with Excedr offers a flexible and cost-effective solution. With customized leasing programs, Excedr helps researchers and institutions acquire the latest lab equipment without the burden of high upfront costs.

Explore how Excedr’s leasing program can support your research needs today and keep your lab at the cutting edge.