Animal Research Resource

Molecular Biology and Genetics Core Facility

Bioinformatics Core

Biostatistics Shared Resource

Flow Cytometry/Cell Sorting Shared Resources

Histopathology & Tissue Shared Resource

Confocal Imaging Shared Resources

Pharmacology Core

Research Computing/Data Systems

Central Instrumentation Facility

Present day cancer research requires sophisticated, advanced research facilities. The following core facilities are part of the Cancer Center and presently available to all faculty and students. A number of these facilities are briefly described to the left.

The Animal Facility of WSU is an AAALAC accredited facility and located in the ground floor of Scott Hall (WSU), near the HWCRC. All animal work is carried out under approved animal protocols approved by the WSU Animal Care and Use Committee and upon completion of animal care orientation and training by the users.

This core facility, situated at Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, provides the following services to all faculties of WSU and KCI.   The Genomics Core is organized to provide both consultation and state-of-the-art technologies and data interpretation in genomics. Core scientists interact with Institute researchers at the design phase of projects and assist in incorporating genomics approaches by a) generation of preliminary data, b) writing methodologies, c) high throughput implementation of technology, and d) data mining in public and proprietary databases. The core supports research investigating genetic elements responsible for cancer susceptibility and genetic factors involved in neoplastic initiation and progression.   Existing core technologies include: 1) high-throughput DNA sequencing and genotyping (ABI 3700, 377, 3100); 2) real-time quantitative PCR for mRNA and/or DNA (ABI 7900); 3) high-volume microsatellite-repeat genotyping (ABI 377, 3100) and SNP analysis (ABI 7900); 4) rapid, inexpensive 96-well-based polymorphism/mutation hunting with HPLC heteroduplexing (Transgenomics WAVE); 5) high throughput robotic assistance in picking and arraying clones, growing large library collections, and general liquid handling; 6) gene expression analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays, and 7) gene expression profiling using in-house microprinted glass microarrays.  Informatics is a critical component of any genomics facility and the core operates software for sample acquisition and tracking, correlation with clinical information, work assignment, clone/plate management and raw data reporting (SQL*LIMS & SQL*GT) and data mining tools. The instruments are connected directly to the database servers for automated data collection (SQL*LIMS and GCOS). The core's ethernet network is connected to the WSU campus gigabit ring. Informatics personnel include a systems administrator, Oracle database programmers, application specialists, and technology-specific project managers.

The mission of the Bioinformatics Core is to provide state-of-the-art bioinformatics resources to the cancer center researchers. This Core focuses on support and collaborative research in the areas of: i) data analysis for high throughput gene expression experiments (e.g., microarrays), ii) development of molecular classifiers, iii) experimental design, and iv) database support for storage and retrieval of experimental data. The core encompasses all aspects from the user training and support of existing public or subscription tools and basic research software, to the development of novel tools in these areas.

The primary purpose of KCI’s Biostatistics Resource is to provide support in the design and analysis of studies as well as data management and computation for clinical and basic science research projects. The primary responsibility of the staff is to collaborate with clinical and basic research scientists on the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of cancer research studies. Methodological research on the biostatistical aspects of cancer research studies is also encouraged.

The mission of the Flow Cytometry Core is to provide Institute and University members with ready access to routine and complex flow cytometric procedures, along with consultative services required for members to make full use of the power of this technology. Facility instrumentation includes a recently acquired Becton Dickinson (BD) FACS DiVa cell sorter capable of 8-color analyses and high-speed cell sorting, a BD FACS Calibur capable of 4-color analyses, a BD FACScan (3-color), a Compucyte Laser Scanning Cytometer for the in situ detection of fluorescence in cells or tissues on microscope slides, and analyses workstations all linked by a local area network. The Core has experienced personnel with a wide range of expertise and knowledge that can facilitate the research needs of all investigators from training, experimental planning, staining advice, running samples and analyses, and interpretation of data.

The Department of Pathology has a Shared Resource staffed by several full-time technologists. A full complement of histology services is offered. Specimens obtained from animal studies are brought to the facility for processing and preparation of paraffin blocks, and for thin or thick sectioning according to individual needs. The Resource also provides service of immunohistochemical staining with the primary antibody provided by the investigators. Human tissue blocks from the archives of WSU affiliated hospitals may be sectioned with prior approval through the Chair of the Pathology Department and through the tissue procurement and storage committee with approved human protocol. Several pathologists are available to review slides with investigators on an individual basis. In addition, collection of fresh human tissues and cryo-preservation of frozen tissues are also performed on tissues obtained from all anatomical sites to support on-going studies. Demographic information is maintained in a confidential fashion. All protocols requiring human material must have IRB approval and must go through a specific approval process with the Tissue Research Committee for scientific approval and statistical validity. 

The purpose of the Confocal Imaging Core is to enhance the peer-reviewed funded research activities of Karmanos Cancer Institute members whose research requires confocal microscopy and related techniques. Capabilities and services include: Confocal microscopy, high resolution conventional light microscopy, in vivo small animal imaging, in situ hybridization, cytochemistry, histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, intracellular trafficking studies, multiple labeling studies (up to three, soon to expand to seven, different parameters can be studied at the same time) and radiometric analyses (e.g., intracellular pH and ion measurement studies), as well as three dimensional image reconstruction and quantitative measurements.  The confocal imaging system consists of a Zeiss LSM 310 confocal microscope equipped with three lasers, a Meridian InsightPlus confocal microscope equipped with one laser and the newly acquired Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal microscope with four lasers and multiphoton imaging capability. The facility also provides conventional fluorescent microscopy through a Zeiss Axiophot Triple-Camera Photomicroscope and the newly acquired Zeiss live cell imaging microscope with the state of the art Apotome module capable of four dimensional imaging (3D in time). In vivo small animal optical imaging is a newly acquired technology made available to the core through the purchase of the Kodak IS2000MM small animal imager. The analytical systems of the Confocal Facility include a SiliconGraphics Octane workstation, four Macintosh G4 workstations as well as a Dell Precision 650 workstation with various analytical software and photographic quality printers..

The Pharmacology Core supports clinical trials as well as preclinical studies by providing specimen processing and tracking, drug level analyses and pharmacokinetic modeling, and assistance in study design and data interpretation.  With the addition of the new services, the pharmacology core offers broad, comprehensive pharmacology support in the areas of sample handling, pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interaction, pharmacodynamics, and human safety pharmacology. During the 2000-2003 funding period specimen processing by the core generated over 17,000 clinical samples for pharmacology studies (more than 8,000 from NIH funded clinical trials), of which more than 6,000 samples remained in the core for HPLC and CFU-GM analyses. The core anticipates that the demand on drug analysis and human safety pharmacology services will shift from pharmaceutical compounds to nutraceuticals and dietary substances that influence the effectiveness of chemotherapy, as well as toward increased emphasis on measurements of small molecule biomarkers.

KCI, WSU and the School of Medicine have computing/Data Systems that provide computer-related services. The systems provide computations with different departments within KCI and WSU, with users on the campus, and with all points on the Internet. Users on Macintosh, IBM compatible, and UNIX systems can access files and applications as well as use printing services (including laser color printer). Data Integrity is maintained by a tape backup system that performs daily tape backups. All KCI and WSU employees have user accounts on the network that gives the users access to electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheets, statistical analysis, databases, and graphics programs. Computer and software-related purchasing assistance, as well as servers and software, are provided to enhance research endeavors and allow scientists to make extensive use of the data they gather. These Systems provide a secure environment where investigators can analyze, store, and prepare presentations on their data; this environment allows scientists to share their findings with the scientific community within the campuses. These data support systems are maintained by trained professionals who are capable of taking steps to prevent system outages, maintain tape backups, assist and train users, and update all software.

The Central Instrumentation Facility is within the Chemistry Department of Wayne State University.  The purpose of this facility was to make available to researchers in the University community, on a shared basis, major analytical instrumentation.  The Central Instrumentation Facility maintains modern analytical instruments to provide routine analysis and research support.  The facility consists of four major areas of emphasis - Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, X-Ray Crystallography, and Optical Spectroscopy.