Traditionally, research cores at USC have been managed by individual laboratories or by the department, college or school in which the core is housed. This has resulted in some challenges and inconsistencies across the university's core facilities.

To enhance USC research cores, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the President are investing in research core centralization, streamlining and enhancing the efficiency of our research facilities by consolidating cores into a centralized and integrated system. 

This ongoing effort has empowered centralized cores to replace and upgrade key instrumentation, hire new centralized core staff and implement the iLab ordering and scheduling system. Seven cores are currently centralized under the Office of the Vice President for Research:

• Electron Microscopy Core
• Center for Elemental Mass Spectrometry
• Functional Genomics Core
• HESTIA Core
• Instrumentation Resource Facility
• Mouse Experimentation and Germ-Free Core
• X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Core

In addition to these centralized cores, USC continues to host many non-centralized cores that serve USC and external researchers.