Provides services for histological specimen processing and automated slide-based biomarker methods (protein/RNA/DNA) following good clinical practices.
The Drug Development Program (DDP) Histology and Biomarker Laboratory is a research histo-immuno lab that offers services to process tissue specimens including formalin-fix, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks, optimal cutting temperature (OCT), unstained sections for slide-based assays and histological evaluations. Biomarker assays including immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), mRNA in situ hybridization (mRNA ISH), and multiplex assays are performed using a state-of-the-art clinical grade equivalent automated slide stainer system to provide high quality, reproducible staining essential for preclinical and clinical research using specimens from human and patient-derived tumor models including xenografts and organoids.
- Automated, high flexibility, high volume for robust IHC, and FISH, mRNA ISH slide staining and multiplex assays using the state-of-the-art DISCOVERY ULTRA Research Staining system.
- Specimen processing using standard operating procedures.
- Customized specimen processing and method development for slide-based technologies.
- Expertise in correlatives clinical research specimen processes and biomarkers.
- Expertise in pre-clinical research and handling of patient-derived tumor xenografts and organoid models.
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labs and equipment
|
Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|
|
Roche Diagnostics DISCOVERY ULTRA Research Staining system |
Automated, flexible, high-throughput workflow to support multiple slide-based biomarker assays including IHC (immunohistochemistry), IF (immunofluorescence), ISH (in situ hybridization), SISH (Silver-enhanced in situ hybridization) and multiplexing capabilities. |
|
Leica CM1950 Cryostat |
Cuts frozen specimen thin (microns) sections. |
|
Sakura Finetek Tissue-Tek VIP 5 Vacuum Infiltration Processor |
Prepares the specimens for fixation, dehydration, clearing and infiltration of paraffin. |
|
Sakura Finetek Tissue-Tek TEC 5 Tissue Embedding Console System |
Supports the placement of specimens in a supporting medium mold, typically paraffin, to enable cutting of thin sections using a microtome. |
|
Microm HM 325 Microtome |
Cuts thin paraffin specimen layers, typically from 1 micron to 10 microns. |
|
Leica RM2255 Fully Automated Rotary Microtome |
Cuts thin paraffin specimen layers, typically from 1 micron to 10 microns. |
|
Meisei Electric RCM-3655 automated coverslipping unit |
Slide preparation. |
|
Milestone MicroMED T/T MEGA Microwave Tissue Processor |
Antigen retrieval. |
|
Fisher Scientific Isotemp Oven |
Slide baking for paraffin samples. |
|
Zeiss Axioskop Light Microscope |
Slide viewing. |
|
Olympus BH2 Light Microscope |
Slide viewing. |