A working group of EV scientists
Every project at the UC Davis EV Core is executed by a senior scientist.
The EV Core provides specialized expertise and instrumentation tailored to the expanding field of extracellular vesicle and nanoparticle research. By centralizing high-end acquisition and analysis tools at UC Davis, the core serves as a hub for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Managed by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, our primary mission is to standardize EV workflows that align with the Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) guidelines. To address the inherent variability in biological samples, the core develops and maintains rigorous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This focus on methodology ensures that data generated across different laboratories remains scientifically rigorous, reproducible, and compliant with international standards.
Our Team
Randy P. Carney, Ph.D.
Scientific Director, UC Davis EV Core
Associate Professor, UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering
Randy directs the scientific program of the EV Core and runs an independent research lab focused on the chemistry and physics of extracellular vesicles. His lab is internationally recognized for orthogonal single-vesicle characterization - including the application of Raman spectroscopy, super-resolution imaging, and complementary modalities to EV phenotyping.
He is a contributor to MISEV-aligned methods work and consults to academic, government, and biotech teams across the EV lifecycle.
Dustin Hadley, Ph.D.
Technical Director, UC Davis EV Core
Research and Development Engineer, UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering
Dustin leads the day-to-day technical operation of the EV Core - instrumentation, SOP development, project execution, and the rolling validation of methods against the latest field consensus. He is the principal point of technical contact for clients once a project is underway.
His focus is keeping the core's methods at the leading edge: instrument calibration and cross-validation, evolution of SOPs in line with the latest data and specifications, and the integration of new modalities into routine practice.
Partner Cores
UC Davis Core Network
When your project needs capabilities outside the EV Core, we coordinate directly with partner cores at UC Davis — single workflow, single point of contact, single invoice. We know how to prepare EVs so the data quality holds at every downstream step.
Instruments we operate beyond the EV Core
In addition to partner cores, the EV Core's directors and staff are trained users on a number of shared instruments across campus that we run directly on client projects.
UC Davis BioEM Core (Glacios cryo-EM)
We are trained operators of the Glacios 200 kV cryo-TEM at the UC Davis BioEM Core, which we use for cryo-EM structural confirmation of EV samples. The BioEM Core provides the instrumentation; cryo-EM workflow and EV-specific sample prep are run by our team.