NCI-Designated Cancer Center Shared Resources

The nine shared resources of our Cancer Center are specialized service facilities that support the cancer research efforts of our members, as well as other nonprofit and for-profit investigators in cancer research.

Brochure

Animal Resources

Animal Facility
Vivarium with full-service husbandry (colony management, breeding, weaning, tail samples), and procedures, including injections, bleeds, tumor measurements, and surgeries

Animal Imaging and Analysis
Live animal imaging utilizing luminescence, fluorescence, ultrasound, and X-rays. Hematology (CBC) and blood chemistry analysis

Tumor Analysis
Supports xenograft tumor studies including PDX, testing of anti-tumor compound efficacy, deriving cell cultures from PDX models for HTS analysis

Cell Imaging and Histology

Cellular Imaging
11 microscopes: Nikon super resolution/confocal system, three additional confocal systems (including multi-photon), bright field, fluorescence, FRET, laser TIRF, live cell imaging.  Microscopes integrated with image capture systems and advanced image analysis software.

Histology
Fixed/frozen sections, automated staining for H&E and IHC, laser capture, high resolution slide scanning (bright field and fluorescence), assistance with tissue acquisition, including TMAs

Structural Biology

Protein Analysis
Includes micro-ITC, microscale thermophoresis, Creoptix GCI, DSC, and Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Cryo-EM
Cryogenic electron microscopy with a Titan Krios (Gatan K3 DDD) and a Tecnai T12 (Eagle 4K CCD)

Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry
Core staff operate two BD cell sorters with up to 16 colors, which are housed in biosafety enclosures. There are also five analytical cytometers with up to 18 colors (three equipped with plate loaders), and an Amnis imaging flow cytometer

Genomics

Genomics and Spatial Transcriptomics
Next-gen sequencing analysis including library prep, sequencing (Illumina NextSeq 500), single-cell sequencing (10X and Bio-Rad ddSeq), and data analysis. Full-service Q-PCR, NanoString nCounter, STR cell line verification, shared analytical equipment

Proteomics

Proteomics
Analysis from simple protein IDs to characterizing proteome-wide PTMs. Automated sample prep, advanced Thermo LC-MS systems include two Fusion Lumos Tribrids, Velos Elite, QExactive plus, and Quantiva.  Hardware and software for proteomics data analysis.

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics
Informatics, statistical, and pathway analysis of large ‘omics datasets, data mining, systems biology, investigator training.  Dedicated HPC cluster and data storage, shared tools including Qiagen Omicsoft Suite, Ingenuity Pathways, NextBio/Illumina Correlation Engine, GeneGo Metacore
 

Functional Genomics

Functional Genomics
siRNA/shRNA/miRNA/cDNA/CRISPR libraries, HTS assay development and screening, hit follow-up, CRISPR-engineered cell lines, production of viral vectors (lentivirus, retrovirus, adenovirus, AAV)

Cancer Metabolism

Cancer Metabolism
Measurements of metabolic flux (GC-MS), major metabolites, and cellular respiration