Resources
Shared Resources
Director of Lombardi Shared Resources, Stephen Byers, PhD, explains that these shared resources allow Lombardi and Georgetown scientists to pool their equipment, technicians and knowledge for the benefit of all. This program, which is supported by funding from the National Cancer Institute, is in place to provide cost effective access to state-of-the-art technologies. New shared resources are continually being developed and brought on line.
Using breast cancer research as an example: It is clear that researchers need to study breast cancer tumor tissue. To do this, they will work with Lombardi's Histopathology & Tissue Shared Resource, which collects and stores tissue samples. Not only do breast researchers have access to the samples, they also rely on the pathologist leading the resource for his expertise. All of this takes place without the breast cancer lab investing in these resources itself. Lombardi investigators, as well as other investigators at Georgetown, have access to these shared resources.
Each shared resource is handled like a small business and is coordinated by a faculty member who is experienced in that research area. This person has a staff of one or more who facilitates access to that resource. Each "business" provides a specialized service for a reasonable user fee.
Director:
Stephen Byers, PhD
E415, The Research Building
(202) 687-1813
- Animal Shared Resource*
- Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Shared Resource: Provides investigators with consultation on the biostatistics aspects of clinical, basic science, and population science research projects.
- Biacore Molecular Interaction Shared Resource: Provides applications of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. The Biacore instruments measure SPR that provides quantitative analysis capabilities to study the specificity of the binding between two label-free molecules, concentrations of specific molecules, binding kinetics, and binding affinity.
- Clinical & Molecular Epidemiology Shared Resource: Responsible for maintaining and expanding a collection of serum, plasma and lymphocyte samples linked to a computer database with associated clinical, epidemiological, and follow-up data.
- Clinical Research Management Office: The administrative shared resource for the management and support fo clinical research at Lombardi. The CRMO processes and maintains all records on all Lombardi protocols, negotiates clinical trials budgets and support, administer regulatory activities, provide research nursing and data management support.
- Familial Cancer Registry: An integrated and comprehensive resource of individuals at high genetic risk for cancer. Includes detailed demographic data, family history information, medical history, cancer risk factors, tissue from surgeries, tissue micro-array, immortalized lymphocytes, red blood cells, buffy coat, plasma, blod clot and serum, all of which can be linked securely and confidentially to results of genetic testing.
- Flow Cytometry & Cell Sorting Shared Resource: Provides flow cymtometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) in a variety of research applications.
- Genomics & Epigenomics Shared Resource: Provides microarray services, DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, pyrosequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction for gene expression and genotyping studies.
- Histopathology & Tissue Shared Resource: IRB-approved facility, provides comprehensive tissue procurement, histological, and tissue processing services; makes available pertinent frozen and fixed tumor and normal tissues from patients with follow-up information for use by investigators; provides expert assistance in conducting experiments using specimens.
- Microscopy & Imaging Shared Resource: Provides instrumentation, training and expertise primarily for light microscopy.
- Tissue Culture Shared Resource: Maintains a collection of cell lines and provides frozen vials or live cultures.
- Preclinical Imaging Research Laboratory*
The PIRL offers provides expertise in the design, acquisition and analysis of preclinical imaging studies using imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, small animal ultrasound, x-ray and live visible-near infrared fluorescence imaging. - Proteomics & Metabolomics Shared Resource: Equipped to provide a broad spectrum of services to the research community. Services include (1) Fractionation of complex protein mixtures by large or small format 2D gel electrophoresis; and image analysis for assessing differential protein expression; (2) Sample processing coupled with protein identification and sequencing by mass spectrometry; (3) Post-translational modification detection and site mapping; (4) Metabolite profiling, i.e. metabolomics, from bio-fluids, cell and tissue extracts (5) Drug metabolite identification; (6) Shot gun proteomics using nano-LCMS/MS system.
*Accessible only to users with netIDs.
