The Materials Characterization Core (MCC) at Drexel University is a multi-user facility that provides technical expertise and instrumentation for research in variety of areas including nanoscience and engineering, polymer research, biomedical engineering, and chemistry and physics of solid materials. The MCC occupies a 3,500 square foot laboratory in the Bossone Research Enterprise Building on Drexel\'s main campus that houses several electron microscopes, X-ray diffractometers, an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer and a suite of sample preparation tools. The instruments are supported by three full-time Ph.D.-level staff members who provide expert consultation, training and assistance to MCC users. In addition to serving the research missions of our users, the MCC is used for teaching both undergraduate and graduate level courses in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Biomedical Engineering, and Biology. MCC instrumentation and staff assistance is available to all Drexel University students, faculty and staff as well as external academic and commercial interests. Trained and certified users are welcome to work independently on our instruments 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The Cell Imaging Center (CIC) is a multi-user facility housed in purpose-built imaging suites in the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB) and in the Bossone Research Center. The CIC serves the light microscopy needs of Drexel researchers from a variety of academic colleges and departments including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, the School of Biomedical Engineering, and the College of Medicine. The CIC also supports the teaching missions of Biology and Biomedical Engineering curricula and provides service to users from local biotech companies.

Mission
Our mission is to provide a state-of-the-art facility, expertise, and education in advanced quantitative light microscopy to support Drexel University’s research community

Vision
Inspire innovative research and empower Drexel’s researchers through acquisition and promotion of emerging advanced imaging technologies, excellent service, and community partnerships

The University Research Computing Facility (URCF), established in 2013, provides high-performance scientific computing and secure storage of protected health information to both the Drexel community and other universities in the Philadelphia area. The URCF’s 1,600 square-foot data center houses the Picotte cluster, which consists of Standard CPU Nodes, Large Memory Nodes, GPU Nodes and secure scratch and persistent storage.

The Waksman Genomics Core Facility (WGCF) is a professional service organization, under Waksman Institute of Microbiology Rutgers University, providing research community with the tools of advanced sequencing technology, and is powered by a highly trained and qualified staff.
Equipped with NextSeq500, MiSeq, and Ion Proton, we have successfully performed de novo genome sequencing, genome resequencing, ChIP-Seq and RNA-seq for numerous local investigators from the Waksman Institute of Microbiology, other units of Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, as well as researchers from other institutions on a fee-per-service basis. In our lab, we will perform library construction, template preparation and sequencing of the libraries or provide training in library preparation methods to the personnel in your laboratory to ensure that they can produce high-quality sequencing libraries. We also perform procedures to enrich or remove polyadenylated RNA, rRNA and/or tRNA for the users of our facility as needed.
In addition, WGCF provides bioinformatics support for project. WGCF Bioinformatics staff member is available to consult with you during research project and extramural proposal development in order to assemble a realistic data management and analysis plan before selecting samples and initiating data collection. We will also assist you with developing your own data processing capabilities, in addition to providing direct bioinformatics support on a fee for service basis.

The Molecular Resource Facility at New Jersey Medical School was established to provide state of the art services for molecular biology to the medical school and other research laboratories in Newark and beyond. Our main focus is DNA sequencing and includes capillary and high throughput services. We also provide single cell sequencing services using 10X genomics and Drop-Seq platforms. We also provide many other services including Luminex, oligonucleotide synthesis (IDT), HPLC analysis and purification, real time PCR and others.

Centralized biorepository of human biosamples. TTAB is responsible for the collection, processing, and storage of human blood, fluid, and tissue at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. TTAB has a collection bench within Surgical Pathology Suite at Hospital of University of Pennsylvania (HUP).  Our collection bench sits adjacent to frozen section teams managing clinical sample collection and allowing for tight integration of tissue sample collection with clinical pathology teams.

CISR provides consultative and technical services that leverage the oncology informatics team's deep expertise in clinical research informatics, intimate knowledge of the clinical information systems and workflows in use throughout the Penn Medicine Cancer Service Line, and unique and powerful "real world" data assets.

Our team can help with work preparatory to research – hypothesis generation, trail feasibility assessment, and grant preparation – and work related to clinical trials, pragmatic trials, and prospective and retrospective research registries.

The Human Immunology Core (HIC) provides wet bench expertise and infrastructure support for early phase clinical trials and other investigations. The HIC offers online ordering of purified cell subsets from HLA-typed healthy human apheresis donors. HIC staff are internally and externally qualified to perform blood (PBMC) and tissue processing for viable cryopreservation following validated standard operating procedures. The HIC also offers a wide range of immunological assays including digital ELISA, ELISA, ELISPOT, Luminex, flow cytometry and immune repertoire profiling (NGS of BCR and TCR rearrangements in bulk and single cell formats). The HIC offers investigators expertise and guidance in study design, sample processing, regulatory compliance, immunology assay design and validation, data analysis and presentation, and grant writing support. 

Provide electronic expertise to researchers in the area of basic research and/or Medical device development:
Embedded systems (Firmware, Hardware, and Software solutions) applied to concrete challenges in the research community.
- Electronic prototype design services.
PLM (Product Life-cycle Management) for electronic design.
- We can also support Product Management from concept to final customer deployment. We have the expertise to make an electronic device a complete consumer product that can be deployed for mass production.
- Sustaining and maintenance engineering for electronic products.
- Consulting services in the areas of CE/FCC compliance, EMI, and ESD for lab products and certain consumer electronics.
- Troubleshooting and repair of released electronic systems.

Offers in vivo services specializing in immunodeficient and xenograft models (PDX, humanized immune system). Facility has dedicated BSL2 barrier space equipped with optical imaging, for applications ranging from immunotherapy, cancer biology, infectious diseases and regenerative medicine.

Offers services centered around repository of live and fully annotated cells from adult patients with hematologic malignancies (AML, ALL, MPN, MDS), and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from healthy donors (BM, CB, and FL).

The Clinical Research Collaboration Unit (CRCU) is an Academic Clinical Research Organization that provides comprehensive services essential to the conduct of clinical research projects, including Phase I-IV, multi-center, randomized, clinical trials, registry, and cohort studies. The CRCU employs proven technologies and tools to ensure exceptional data quality. When project needs require tailored solutions, the CRCU offers custom development and integration. With extensive experience serving as the data coordinating center for multi-institutional research networks, the CRCU offers expert staff who maintain a strong focus on data integrity and quality. Additionally, the CRCU offers support in optimizing process tracking and management to enhance operational efficiency.

Penn Cytomics is the sole flow cytometry shared resource laboratory (SRL) at the University of Pennsylvania. Our facility has 35+ instruments, which include analyzers and cell sorters, several of which have spectral and imaging capabilities. We also have a dual-fluorescence cell counter/viability instrument and a tissue dissociator for cell preparation. We provide both on-site and off-site support to our instrument users, including analyzer and cell sorter training. We also have a research and development team that collaborates/consults with principal investigators in developing high-dimensional panels, as well as staining, acquisition, and analysis. The core has ~10 nearby satellite locations to accommodate instrument user needs.

Center for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy (CAMRIS) is a Radiology research core at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine providing oversight in the responsible use and application of Magnetic Resonance (MR) in research at Penn. CAMRIS oversees eight state-of-the-art whole-body MR scanners and provides scanning services by experienced technologists to a diverse community of investigators conducting innovative human and animal research.

Our core, which is part of the PennCHOP Microbiome Program, provides access for researchers to isolators and the state-of-the-art Isocage system (individual sterile caging units) for variety of in vivo studies using germ free mice. Core personnel provide technical support for germ-free experiments. A new addition to core is the ability to perform "dirty mouse" experiments in which lab mice are exposed to a cocktail of pathogens typically excluded from specific pathogen free (SPF) facilities.

The core's services include molecular profiling of DNA and RNA on different platforms, Sanger sequencing, full service Next Generation Sequencing with different applications and bioinformatics, fragment analysis including human cell line authentication.

Facility provides basic cell culture training and services in various cell culture and related procedures e.g. Mycoplasma and Endotoxin testing. Services include cell culture at various scales, expansion of primary cells, seed cell cultures from on site cell bank, cell storage; large scale growth of hybridoma and other cell lines followed by antibody purification by protein G column or recombinant protein production; EBV induced transformation of lymphocytes.Offers hybridoma generation by cell fusion and screening and, transfection of mammalian cells. Facility prepares specialized cell culture media, Drosophila media and, various tissue culture and molecular biological reagents.

The Judith and William Bollinger Digital Fabrication Laboratory is proud to provide fabrication services and consultations contributing to innovation in teaching, learning, research, and clinical care at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Immune Health Platforms group provides infrastructure and technical support for scaling clinical immune profiling of large scale clinical cohorts. The Platforms group provides biospecimen processing, sample storage, high-dimensional immune assays, computational analysis, and project management. Services are only available to investigators and teams whose cohorts have been approved by the Immune Health leadership.

Our mission is to support advancement of RNA biotherapeutics via enabling swift and low-failure solutions of targeting-related aspects – rationally designed and encompassed by chance by the Institute investigators. The Core’s resources – unique wealth of methodologies, equipment, reagents, and first, strong and friendly team of accomplished researchers immersed in collaborative projects on targeted drug delivery for several decades, will provide comprehensive support in identification of epitopes and ligands, molecular design and testing of the targeting RNA to diverse multitudes of desirable addresses in the body.

Core provides comprehensive suite of imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spectroscopy (MRS), optical imaging (including bioluminescence, fluorescence, and near-infrared imaging), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and ultrasound (US). In addition, dedicated housing is available for mice and rats undergoing longitudinal imaging studies. Ancillary facilities and resources of SAIF are devoted to radiochemistry and image analysis.

The Biomedical Data Science Core (BDSC) provides consultations and fee-for-service support in big data analyses using state-of-the-art methods of data science in biomedical and health research related to digestive disease and liver research.  The BDSC provides a critical foundation for advancing the frontiers of biomedical research, providing cutting-edge analytical tools to help Penn researchers mine their rich and complex data. To facilitate human subject

Provides wide range of biostatistical and epidemiological consulting services.

The Neuroimaging and Cognitive Core (NICC) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Brain Behavior Laboratory aims to facilitate cutting-edge research in cognitive neuroscience through use of the Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) and neuroimaging. The CNB is comprised of a series of tests that have been applied in neuroimaging studies and can be used either in a scanner as part of a functional neuroimaging study or outside a scanner for measuring individual differences in performance. Tests measure accuracy and speed of performance in major domains of cognition, including executive-control functions (abstraction, attention, working memory), episodic memory (verbal, facial, spatial), complex cognitive processing (language reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, spatial processing), social cognition (emotion identification, emotion intensity differentiation, age differentiation) and sensorimotor and motor speed. 

The Penn Dental Medicine Tissue Processing Laboratory is located in Room 429 of the Levy Building. The laboratory services, available to Penn Dental Medicine researchers as well as other University and outside investigators, include tissue processing; H&E staining, trichrome, and other staining; creation of frozen sections; and deparaffinization. The laboratory also features a cryostat for use by investigators within Penn Dental Medicine; cryostat training is available for a fee. Investigators requiring the services of the Tissue Processing Laboratory should contact the facility to arrange a meeting to set up the appropriate protocols. Special handling, specimen orientation, and any unique aspects of the tissue being processed will be discussed at that time; in some instances, it may be advantageous for the investigator to be present initially when the specimens are being oriented in the hot paraffin prior to the actual sectioning.

The Engineered mRNA and Targeted Nanomedicine Core is designed to address infrastructural barrier to
clinical and translational research in gene therapy, vaccine development (cancer and infectious disease),
stem cell reprograming, and other non-viral gene therapy-based applications by providing high quality in
vitro transcribed messenger RNA (IVT-mRNA) and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Our goal and focus are to lower the experimental barriers to PIs interested in exploring the mRNA technology, and lipid nanoparticles for various applications including tissue and cell targeting.
We offer the following services:
(1) Optimization and production of in vitro transcribed mRNA.
(2) Small-scale production of sequence optimized in vitro transcribed mRNA.
(3) Incorporation of modified nucleosides to modulate activity.
(4) Off the shelf in vitro transcribed mRNA encoding reporter genes (i.e. eGFP, mCherry, and Luc), or cancer antigens (i.e. OVA).
(5) Labelled mRNA (i.e. Cy 3, Cy 5.5, Cy 7) for nanoparticle tracking and microscopy.
(6) Encapsulation into commercially available proprietary (i.e. MC3, KC2 …) and non-proprietary lipid nanoparticles (i.e. DOTAP…) through the LNP core.

Core offers immunoassay, metabolite, and HPLC services to basic, translational, and clinical investigators performing diabetes and related metabolic disease research.RIA /Biomarkers Core is located on the 12th floor of Smilow Center for Translational Research. Approximately 100 different diabetes, obesity and metabolism-related biomarkers from multiple species including human can be assayed using radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, both absorbance and fluorometric), multiplex ELISA on the Luminex platform, and enzymatic and HPLC methods for an expanding variety of diabetes and metabolism related metabolites, hormones, catecholamines and cytokines derived from blood, urine, and tissue samples. 

Provides support to investigators utilizing animal models to study disease. Comparative Pathology Core, Abramson Cancer Center shared resource, provides expert pathological characterization and validation of mouse and other animal models used in biomedical research by offering expertise of board certified veterinary pathologists and access to histology, immunohistochemistry, and digital pathology services.

The Penn Vet Imaging Core provides access to variety of light microscope systems to perform widefield, confocal, 2-photon/multiphoton, second harmonic generation, total internal reflection (TIRF), and high content imaging.

The Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBI) Clinical Research Informatics Core (CIC) provides data brokering and analytics services of clinical data for clinical and translational research in which the goal is to learn actionable healthcare knowledge and develop impactful solutions for improving patient care. We specialize in data extraction, integration, standardization, and analytics of clinical data from the electronic health record (EHR) as well as research databases including PennG&P, Penn COVID-19 i2b2 database, and the IQVIA Medical Record Database using artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), ontologies, machine learning, and visual analytics. The CIC assists Penn/CHOP faculty, staff, and students with conducting research projects using electronic health record data. We also provide translation of research products into healthcare operations through coordination of projects with Penn Medicine Corporate Information Services, Penn Data Analytics Center, and the Center for Applied Health Informatics. The IBI CIC is a member of the Penn-sponsored Honest Broker program.

Core provides personalized assistance on all aspects of imaging, from tips on sample preparation to training on one of our microscopes to assistance with image data analysis. Facility houses confocal microscopes, a Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet system, three widefield light microscopes, and several computers dedicated to image processing and analysis. Offers scanning electron microscope sample preparation and imaging.

The RCPC provides an array of services to: 1) assess cardiovascular function in rodents, including genetically modified lines; and 2) to provide validated surgical models of human heart and vascular disease in order to probe disease mechanisms and to assess therapeutic interventions. We will work with investigators to design and implement the study along with any associated grant applications, animal protocol submissions and manuscript preparation. While the central focus of the facility is cardiovascular research, the imaging and surgical techniques employed are often useful to investigators in other fields. Our Core staff will work with you to assess your specific needs and to provide necessary training and scientific assistance in animal protocol preparation. The Core runs on a fee-for-service model. Accordingly, investigators will be responsible for the costs incurred for their projects and prior animal protocol approval by Penn IACUC.

Supports discovery to invention to innovation in medical translation.Provides animal model development to enhance scientific rigor during in vivo studies in experimental or naturally occurring disease models. Studies can start on small scale leading towards pivotal non-clinical IND/IDE-enabling trials in support of FDA or OUS-FDA submissions. Core hosts PIs, trainees and sponsors during clinical procedures to support and enrich their experience in cross functional team setting.

Core supplies suspensions of neuronal cells prepared from rodent brain for various downstream applications, including primary cell culture. Supplies rat or mouse cells isolated from cortex or hippocampus either in suspension or plates. Custom dissection services are available for other brain regions or for user supplied genetically modified mice.

Core focuses on imaging in nuclear medicine, and engages in collaboration with clinicians and research investigators to optimize new instruments for applications in both clinical and pre clinical (animal) imaging scenarios. Offers equipment to build, test and characterize detectors for PET imaging, operates cluster of high powered Linux computers, which reconstruct, process, and analyze imaging data. Focuses on technology, which increases signal to noise of reconstructed images for whole body studies. Conducts research on SPECT imaging with emphasis on applications to small animal and brain imaging, oversees operation of cyclotron and imaging probe synthesis facilities.

Provides resources for disseminating human pluripotent stem cell technology within UPenn and surrounding research communities.  Our services include derivation of patient specific iPSCs, genome engineering of stem cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and lineage specific differentiation of iPSCs/hESCs in 2D and 3D organoid culture. Core has large collection of patient derived iPSC lines and cell lines of gastrointestinal tract (esophageal, pancreatic and intestinal) available to users. Committed to training investigators in stem cell culture techniques and providing quality tested stem cell reagents to users.

Dedicated to continuing advancement of molecular imaging and seeks to build network of collaborators to conduct translational research using existing and new radiotracers to help better understand the diagnosis, physiology and treatment of multiple diseases. Educates referring clinicians and their patients about emerging benefits of PET/CT diagnostic procedures, other radiotracer imaging methods and radionuclide therapies as tools in their research and clinical practice.Provides opportunities and mentoring for individuals interested in pursuing work or collaborations within molecular imaging field. Provides scanners as well as cyclotron facility.

Shared resource machine shop serving various University of Pennsylvania Schools and Departments. Assists researchers to design and construct both laboratory and clinical instruments.

Core provides investigators with customizable tools and methodolgies to assess in vivo exercise performance, metabolism and respiratory function, as well as in vivo and ex vivo muscle contractility. Provides guidance and training to investigators who want to learn how to collect and process muscle samples for specific uses.

Core (RMPC, formerly MPPMC) is metabolic core. Offers technology and phenotyping services to allow investigators to study metabolism in pre-clinical rodent models. Services include measurements of body composition (fat and lean mass) using NMR and DEXA, energy balance (food intake, locomotor activity, energy expenditure) using indirect calorimetry in either Columbus Instruments CLAMS system or Sable Systems Promethion System (with optional gas analyzer), and other in vivo metabolic phenotyping services (glucose clamps, insulin and glucose tolerance tests, telemetric monitoring of blood glucose or blood pressure, bomb calorimetry).

Mission is to act as portal for research community into Bio-medical imaging resources of University of Pennsylvania. Goals include creating and maintaining access for research community to Bio-medical imaging technologies, enabling research investigators to benefit from Bio-imaging expertise and experience, and educating researchers about Bio-medical imaging options through targeted seminars, research fellowships, and established training programs.

The Penn Microbial Culture and Metabolomics Core provides aerobic and anaerobic culturing services and targeted metabolomics analysis, as well as consultation towards experimental design, method development, and data analyses. Culture studies include isolation of microbial taxa from mammalian samples; interrogation of the physiology of microbial strains under different conditions (e.g., anaerobic/microaerobic/aerobic, differing nutrient limitations) using isolated strains or strains obtained from culture collections (another service offered by the core); co-culturing of defined microbial consortia to investigate microbe-microbe interactions, and; preparation of microbial products (live bacteria, heat-killed bacteria, bacterial supernatants) from single or defined-mixed microbial cultures for use in mammalian cell culture and/or animal model systems. The metabolomics component of the core provides researchers with targeted metabolomics of amino, bile, and short chain fatty acids and features a Waters Acquity uPLC System with photodiode and QDa single quadropole mass detectors as well as an autosampler.

Provides histological services, equipment, and technical expertise for processing and analyses of digestive, pancreatic, and liver tissues as well as three dimensional tissue culture models. Part of the Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases

Develops new ultrasound technologies and clinical applications, to bridge gap between technology and clinical applications, and to provide ultrasound imaging resources to other research. Consists of core group of scientists, sonographers and technicians with expertise in ultrasound technology and computer programming. This group works with clinicians in multiple specialties; including radiologists, cardiologists and surgeons. Core provides ultrasound scanner, sonographer and part-time radiologist on staff to conduct clinical and pre-clinical imaging.Helps with studies involving measurement of angiogenesis, vascularity, tissue elasticity, contrast agents, and effects of various physical and pharmaceutical agents on blood flow and tissue vascularity. Studies include research on cancer, cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disease.

Offers Illumina sequencing and bioinformatic expertise to assist researchers with gene therapy trial evaluations, viral integration profiling, CRISPR off-target analyses. Assists with bioinformatic analyses including RNAseq transcription profiling and 16S taxonomic assignments. 

Offers consultation and laboratory services for high-throughput sequencing (HTS) experiments, with particular expertise and interest in microbiome/metagenome and RNA-seq applications. Provides instrumentation, including Illumina NextSeq 2000 and single cell platforms from 10X genomics and 1CellBio. Offers full service options, as well as hands on instruction for trainees who want to learn best practices for wet lab aspects of genomics experiments. Offers consultation services for all phases of HTS studies, from study design to bioinformatics analysis.

Provides comprehensive or selected services in necessary isolation, quantification and characterization of EVs. Isolation of EV is based on size exclusion using high-performance (SEC-HPLC) or gravity fed (e.g. iZon column) liquid chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and/or density gradient ultracentrifugation. Accurately characterizes EV particle size distribution and concentration using resistive pulse sensing techniques (nCS1, Spectradyne, LLC). Immunophenotype can be accomplished using nanoscale flow cytometry and/or chip array (ExoViewTM) techniques. Provides services in training and education for individuals and lab groups in all methods above and study design consultation.

Provides Becton Dickinson LSR II flow cytometer equipped with four lasers.Blue laser can be used to detect forward and side scatter and 4 colors (eg., FITC/Alexa 488, PE, PerCP-CY55, PE-CY7), red laser can be used to detect 2 colors (e.g., APC and APC-CY7), violet laser can be used to detect 2 colors (e.g., Pacific blue, Am cyan) and a UV laser which can also be used to detect 2 colors (e.g., INDO1 blue, Indo1-violet/DAPI). The instrument is located in Room 330 in the Levy Building (240 South 40th Street).

Provides access to optical imaging capabilities for researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Wistar Institute. Provides instruments and expertise to perform widefield, confocal, multiphoton/intravital imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging, high content live cell screening, long term single cell imaging, second harmonic imaging, structured illumination super resolution, and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, as well as software tools for image analysis. Core has adjacent (in and out) ULAR approved facility to house animals for long term live animal studies.

Provides LDI affiliated investigators access to high quality, skilled data analysts. HEDAP recruits, trains, and manages group of masters level and PhD level statistical analysts. These analysts work with multi disciplinary investigators across funded projects using statistical software packages such as SAS, Stata, and R to manipulate and analyze health care data under guidance of investigators and other collaborators.

Provides secure environment for investigators analyzing protected health information.  It coordinates acquisition, storage, and analysis of data from private and government sources (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, and others) and facilitates their use by researchers who seek to answer important questions regarding health policy and health care. 

Offers wide array of live cell imaging applications.Provides Nikon A1R Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy system equipped with 4 laser lines to provide 6 different excitation/emission configurations; multiple photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), 32-channel spectral detector, full complement of microscope objectives, high speed image scanner, fully motorized stage and completely controllable environmental chamber. Users have access to NIS Elements AR software and 2D/3D deconvolution module offering sophisticated image analysis and processing features.

Offers embryological manipulation services, focused on, but not limited to, murine model systems.  These services primarily enable generation of genetically modified murine models, as well as experimental research in germ cell function and early embryonic development.

The ITMAT Bioinformatics Facility provide project based bioinformatics support for ITMAT translational researchers. Our focus has been on providing the computational infrastructure and programming support needed to conduct high-throughput proteomics experiments. We also support other genomics high-throughput technologies to a lesser extent. The projects range from building Web applications for data analysis pipelines, scripting, clinical and basic science research support, and database and algorithm development. Recent efforts have focused on explorations of new models of computation, specifically cloud computing and GPUs, for use in genomic scale research.

The Clinical Imaging Core Service Center was developed in 2010 jointly between the Department of Radiology and the Abramson Cancer Center to support cancer clinical trials. Since then it has evolved to provided services throughout the Perelman School of Medicine. The core is divided into three categories: RADCORE, Tumor Response Assessment (TRAC) and Research imaging guided biopsies. RADCORE is staffed by dedicated clinical research professionals with a wide range of expertise of imaging based clinical research protocols. The services we provide range from consultation through fully management of research protocols. This team also includes our dedicated Radiology IND/IDE support office. Tumor Response Assessment Core (TRAC) is staffed by a core team of Radiologist skilled in evaluating tumor response imaging assessments for patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials being conducted at UPHS. Research imaging guided biopsies: Staffed by an Interventional Radiology and technical lead to provide consultation with investigator to define biopsy protocol and pathology tissue collection.

Designes and buildes novel instruments and apparatus for research to user specifications. Works with users to develop initial project drawing, and will explore alternate designs to insure desired functionality. Fabricates user devices to high tolerance, using machine tools and materials, and can repair laboratory devices even if devices were constructed elsewhere.

Facility offers procedural and animal housing to perform in vivo research with biosafety level 3 pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2. Services include consultation, specialized training, and basic/advanced technical services. Provides equipment to longitudinally monitor mice over course of infection. Animal housing space includes three ABSL-3 separate housing cubicles with Allentown BCU-2 animal cages. Animals will be housed under pathogen free conditions at AAALAC accredited University Laboratory Animal Resources facilities within Vernon and Shirley Hill Pavilion using animal protocols approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Core provides bioinformatics services that include data analysis and consultation and building of efficient pipelines that handle various biomedical data including Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data.

Core facilitates use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to generate novel mouse genetic tools.

The interdisciplinary Brain Science Center in the Penn Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences provides infrastructure support for research on human cognition, perception, affect, and disordered cognition in clinical populations. Currently supported infrastructure includes the Brain Science Center computing cluster, the UPenn Flywheel imaging informatics platform, the BSC Virtual Reality Lab, and behavioral testing facilities in the Richards and Goddard Labs.

Research core is organized into three interdependent facilities. Ultrastructure lab offers training to Standard-EM and Immuno-EM for cellular ultra-structures of tissue samples. Cryo-EM Screening and Training offers training on Microscopes and ancillary equipment for Negative Stain Imaging, Single-Particle Cryo-EM and Cryo-Tomography of large complexes and cells. Beckman Center for Cryo-EM offers service for high resolution data collection of prescreened and well qualified samples for single particle analysis and Tomography using Titan Krios microscope with Gatan K3 camera.

Core provides distribution of lentivirus based shRNA and cDNA plasmid DNA clones; technical expertise in developing biological assays (i.e. biochemical-, cell-, and high-content) in miniaturized, multiwell microtiter plates that are laboratory automation compatible; high-throughput chemical and functional genomic screening, including data analysis and interpretation. Our goal is to use cutting biological models to discover genes and small molecules that enable scientists to further study functions of poorly understood proteins, signaling pathways, and cells in complex biological process relevant to human physiology and disease.

Core is overseen by Cardiovascular Institute and is partnership with the Abramson Cancer Center and the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism at Penn. Provides expertise in targeted and untargeted metabolomics of biological samples using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Performs assays and assists in interpretation of results.

Core provides equipment and services to investigate behavior phenotypes of models related to neurological and other disorders. Core is utilized by scientists across disciplines that are interested in behavioral consequences of unique physiological disruptions (e.g., metabolic, drugs etc.). Provides assessment of many domains of behavior including sensory, motor, social, communication, affect related behaviors and learning and memory. NTC was established in 2012 through generous startup funds from the Penn School of Medicine, the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT), Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology (CSCN) and Penn Medicine Neuroscience Center (PMNC).

Facility provides centralized service to efficiently produce genetically altered mice for basic research.  They include transgenic, chimeric and genome edited mice carrying transgenes or gene knockout and Knockin of specific interest. Core also provides embryo and sperm cryopreservation as well as in vitro fertilization and re-derivation of live and cryopreserved lines, along with long-term storage of cryopreserved samples.

Core encourages and facilitates microbiome focused research in pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of patients with critical illness. Core assists in research by providing de-identified samples with linked clinical metadata to support research in this area, collect specimens as needed in support of microbiome research, and offer support for development of such research in the critical care setting.

Core is division of Genetics Core Facilities, University service center to provide consultation, training, and services in areas of cell culture and hybridomas. Stockroom serves University of Pennsylvania investigators and affiliate institutions by coordinating relations with various suppliers of molecular biological research materials. This involves not only bulk purchasing of these products, but negotiation of discounts and convenient delivery arrangements. Special ordering of non regularly stocked products is available from 28 bioreagent vendors with discounted pricing and overnight delivery.

CACTIS mission is to oversee proposed research protocols that involve human, animal, phantom or specimen studies in an effort to achieve two goals, to ensure that all research performed on CT scanners comply with CACTIS and University policy, and Federal Regulations, and to determine if CACTIS can maintain the resources required to carry out each research protocol, including personnel, software, hardware and scan time. Additionally, CACTIS oversees the day-to-day operations of all CT procedures associated with research protocols, provides information regarding the use of CT facilities to the research community at the University of Pennsylvania, provides CACTIS users with all of the policies of the institution governing research, and ensures that CACTIS is in compliance with these policies. The service center strives to support the Perelman School of Medicine’s research endeavors by providing CT research services for a fee designed only to cover actual costs.

Core dedicated to development and application of innovative, novel magnetic resonance and optical imaging techniques. Provides research and computing resources for projects with focus on developing instrumentation, methodologies, and data analysis techniques for quantitative assessment of functional, structural, and metabolic parameters in humans with use of multinuclear magnetic resonance, novel spectral, perfusion, functional, and optical imaging techniques.

The Ovarian Cancer Research Center (OCRC) has opened a Tumor BioTrust Collection (TBC) to the Penn research community on July 1, 2018. Specimens that are available through the OCRC TBC include gynecologic cancer specimens such as fresh and frozen tissues, plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, blood, formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples, Tissue Microarrays (TMAs), and various types of samples collected from rapid autopsies. All samples collected have clinical annotation including demographic patient profiles, pathological & clinical notations, treatment history, and detail disease information, etc. We are building and maintaining a centralized research database according to HIPPA specifications and Penn IRB standards.

Offers development and application of advanced computational and analytical techniques that quantify morphology and function from biomedical images, as well as on relating imaging phenotypes to genetic and molecular characterizations, and on integrating this information into diagnostic and predictive tools in era of personalized medicine. Computational methods can contribute significantly to automated, reproducible and quantitative interpretations of biomedical images. Translates advanced computational and analytical imaging methods to clinic, by providing forum in which interactions between researchers and clinicians facilitate bidirectional flow of ideas, algorithms and data between laboratory and clinic.

CHPS is comprised of several Clinical Research Cores designed to facilitate research process. Provides resources, environment, operations, and training to support and promote high quality clinical and translational research by qualified investigators.

Fosters the use of qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies with focus on integrating key stakeholder perspectives and goals into research designs. Collaborates with investigators to address timely, pressing questions across diverse disciplines and works with investigators to provide conceptual as well as technical support for broad research programs, including clinical, community based, and implementation science research questions.

Provides unique equipment and expertise to facilitate modern biophysical characterization and structural analysis of proteins and other biomolecules.

Core works with existing resources to provide targeted study design and biostatistics support to ITMAT/CTSA investigators.Services include protocol review, study design, proposal development, and performance of simple to potentially substantial complex analyses. SDAB integrates support available with HUP and CHOP Center for Human Phenomic Science (CHPSs), expertise and resources of faculty in Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics / Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (CCEB/DBE), Biostatistics Analysis Center (BAC), and Biostatistics and Data Management Core (BDMC) at CHOP.

BioBank supports researchers by providing centralized access to large number of annotated blood and tissue samples.

Provides support including experimental design, islet isolation, and performance of and/or training in range of assays for physiological, metabolic, and morphometric assessment of pancreatic islets as wells as many other tissues and cell types. Offers islet isolation and culture, free intracellular calcium ion measurements, quantitative oxygen consumption of pancreatic islets, electrode based closed cell respirometry, and access to Agilent’s  Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analyzer XFe96.

CyTOF enables multi-parametric high-dimensional single cell analysis of more than 40 markers per cell, with minimal background and compensation issues. Core offers variety of CyTOF-related services including reagent distribution, consultation, antibody conjugation, and data acquisition. 

Offers services to assist with design and implementation of microbiome studies.Assist with longitudinal studies as well as pilot studies.  Pilot studies can be rapidly implemented with human intervention core staff, project managers and research coordinators.

Core within Division of Gastroenterology provides services which represents intersection between host and their microbes in both preclinical and clinical human subject research.Offers human biospecimen repository with associated clinical metadata, instrumentation/access to critical analytic services to characterize expression (i.e. genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, microbial culture, etc.) in both microbes and their mammalian hosts, as well as expertise to extend pre-clinical in vitro and animal model research into human clinical domain.  

Human tissue procurement service within Department of Pathology at HUP, that assists investigators with collection, processing and preservation of research samples. Our staff will personalize sample acquisition and processing to meet project requirements. Samples (malignant, normal, diseased, etc.) and biofluids can be preserved in a range of methods (fresh, frozen, fixed, etc.).

Core aims to facilitate and build capacity for community based research and community engagement, while enhancing translation of research and technological developments to key public health and community stakeholders. Offers consultation on community engagement, training in participatory research methods, and assistance with development, implementation, and evaluation of community translation activities. Core is part of the Penn Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT).

Linux based High Performance Computing resource available to faculty conducting research related to medical imaging and informatics. There are over 150 compute nodes with more than 5000 Intel Xeon CPUs and 58TB of RAM, over 100 GPUs, and 600TB of storage in the cluster. Facility management structure is designed to encourage data sharing and use of common software on this powerful resource, particularly in development of new software and application of imaging to new domains.

Core provides services to users for performing precision, image guided radiotherapy with both Photons and Protons (including FLASH proton radiotherapy) on cells, rodents and larger animals. Physicists will provide expert dosimetry and treatment planning capabilities. Instrumentation consists of two image guided SARRP 200 Small Animal Radiation Research Platforms (Xstrahl) capable of irradiating rodent tissues from 1 mm-120 mm in diameter; research proton beamline (IBA, Roberts Proton Center); one X-RAD 320ix cabinet x-ray irradiator (Precision X-Ray); and two Cs gamma-ray irradiators (Shepherd Mark I), suitable for whole body radiation of rodents.

Facility provides comprehensive viral and molecular support in area of basic, translational and clinical HIV research, consultation, training, and mentoring.Is available to develop customized viral and molecular support services as needed. Offers deep sequencing support and single genome amplification services.

Service supports consultation and collaboration in areas of biostatistics and epidemiology to Penn vision scientists.  Biostatisticians and data management experts provide advice on study design, and offer services in sample size determinations, data management, data analysis, data interpretation, and data presentation.  They are active participants in the development and writing of grant applications and manuscripts. Consulting personnel are CPOB members. In addition to their methodological and technical expertise, consultants are knowledgeable about ocular conditions under study in Penn vision community, about commonly used measures that are unique to vision research (visual acuity, refractive error, visual field indices, etc) and specialized statistical analysis techniques required for many experimental designs used in vision research (correlated data techniques to handle appropriately data from two eyes of same subject). Majority of projects are patient oriented researchers,however, CPOB Consulting Service also works on data analysis with bench laboratory scientists.

Supports next generation infrastructure for clinical data storage and management, next generation analytics, next generation infrastructure for support of clinical research including new clinical trials management system and software, next generation infrastructure for centralizing and integrating external sources of data such as genomics data. Enables future clinical and translational research through biomedical informatics education and training targeted at graduate students, postdoctoral students, residents, fellows, as well as faculty across the biomedical research spectrum.

We study the biological basis of diseases caused by microbes – whether it be a parasitic worm, a pathogenic bacterium, or a complex microbial community in the gut. Our group makes up the Center for Host-Microbial Interactions, at PennVet, and our research leverages a diverse skill set that cuts across the disciplines of genomics, microbiology and immunology. We engage in collaborative projects that benefit from close interactions with veterinarians and human clinicians alike. Our research embodies the idea of One-Health - that humans, animals and the environment are interconnected, and that we all live in a microbial world. We are located at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, in the Department of Pathobiology.

Genomics data management and analysis.

The Core Laboratories at BloodCenter’s Blood Research Institute (BRI) provide specialized research services to investigators. Along with the latest technology in equipment and software, our Core facilities at BRI are staffed by technologists with a high level of expertise in their areas. In addition, each of our Core Labs has a member of the Internal Scientific Advisory committee available for consultation with researchers on experimental design and data analysis relating to products and services provided by the Core Labs.


Our eight Core Labs include:
•Biophysics
•Flow Cytometry
•Histology
•Hybridoma
•Imaging
•Molecular Biology
•Protein Chemistry
•Viral Vector

The UNMC Cell Analysis Facility provides flow cytometryservices to investigators on and off the UNMC campus on a fee for service basis.
Services include:
•Immunophenotyping
•cell cycle and DNA content analysis
•protein expression and bead based assays for signal transductionmolecules
•soluble proteins cytokines and growth factors, as well as DNA fragments
Instrumentation includes: 1) three B-D FACSCaliburdual-laser cytometerscapable of four color, 8 parameter analysis, 2) a B-D LSR II four-laser cytometercapable of 13 color,
15 parameter analysis, 3) a B-D FACSArraydual-laser bioanalyzercapable of four color, plate-based multiplex assays, 4) A B-D FACSAriafour-laser, high speed digital cell sorter capable of 15 color, 17 parameter analysis, 5) a B-D FACSVantageDiVathree-laser, high speed cell sorter capable of 6 color, 10 parameter analysis, 6) a Becton Dickinson FACStarPlusthree-laser, low pressure cell sorter capable of 4 color, 6 parameter analysis, and 7) a MiltenyiAutoMACsautomated magnetic cell separation system.

LCM is equipped with two LCM systems (PixCell II® and Veritas™, Molecular Devices, Sunnywale, CA), which are available for a wide range of applications, including the LCM of specific immunostained or fluorescent cells. Viability of the IR laser-enabled LCM technique has been shown for a variety of different cell types. The LCM procedure is remarkably simple and robust. The method is extraordinarily gentle and ideal for microdissection of single cells or small numbers of cells. LCM system utilizes a laser microbeam that melts a thermoplastic membrane that sticks to the selected cells, which can then be lifted and secured in a microfuge tube containing the appropriate extraction solutions. The transferred tissue on the film retains its original morphology, thereby allowing microscopic verification of the specificity of the captured material. Using this strategy, a single small cluster up to thousands of cells can be procured safely and without contamination. The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer and Nanodrop ND1000 monitor the quality and quantity of extracted RNA, DNA, as well as proteins from the LCM sample.

Services include: flow cytometry, cell sorting, cell & tissue culture, immortalization of cell lines, and 2-D DIGE. Additionally, CSC staff offer training and assistance in flow cytometry, tissue culture, and operation of many of our walk up instruments.

The Histochemistry and Tissue Processing Core is part of the Department of Biomedical Research, at Nemours. The HTPC is CLIA certified #08D0878042 and provides clinical diagnostic testing for muscle enzyme histochemistry and IHC, as well as routine and complex histology for research. The Core serves internal academic, external academic and corporate clients for the following: routine histology, specialy stanining, enzyme histochemistry, immuno histochemistry (IF and IHC) in-situ, antibody development, imaging and morphometrics (histograms).

The Gnotobiotic Core provides specialized infrastrucure and expertise to study host-microbiome interactions under controlled microbial conditions. The Gnotobiotic Core supports investigators whose research requires germ-free model organisms with specialized infrastructure and expertise to study host-microbiome interactions under controlled microbial conditions.

Services
The Gnotobiotic Core offers a variety of targeted services on CHOP's Philadelphia Campus to help your project be successful.

The Core provides:

Germ-free strains for researchers
Germ-free rederivation of model strains (future service)
Maintenance of germ-free model organism colonies
Colonization with defined microbial consortia or complex microbiota
Completion of controlled microbial transfer experiments such as fecal microbiota transplantation.
The team also is equipped to support experimental design, sterile technique training, cultivation, and microbiological monitoring (e.g., culture, PCR, sequencing) to verify microbial status.

The IDEA Lab is Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's new engineering innovation core facility, providing expertise and resources in 3D printing, rapid prototyping, biofabrication, electronic and mechanical design, computational modeling, and custom device development. The lab supports researchers through specialized equipment, engineering consultation, technical training, and collaborative space to accelerate the translation of innovative concepts into research tools, prototypes, medical technologies, and educational solutions.

The Qualitative Research Core (QCR) supports all Children‘s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute personnel and faculty who are interested in utilizing qualitative methods. We support research teams with a wide range of qualitative research experience, including those who are new to qualitative research and those with established qualitative research portfolios. We are experienced in providing research support across a broad range of settings, including in-hospital clinical research, primary care, public health, and community-based settings. Our services are designed to support a wide range of needs, including free introductory videos, yearly seminars, customized project workshops, and hands-on project support and grantmaking.

The CHOP Microbiome Center is the sequencing and analytical resource of the PennCHOP Microbiome Program, providing end-to-end solutions for microbiome research. Our sequencing lab offers expertise in next-generation DNA sequencing for microbiome studies, working with customers to provide optimized workflows and protocols customized for each study. Our analytical lab provides expertise in bioinformatics and statistical analysis of microbiome data. We develop an analytical plan specific to your project and can integrate microbiome data with other data sources, such as metabolomics or dietary intake information.

Established in 2012, the CAG Sequencing Laboratory is fully equipped with state-of-art technology and experienced staff members. Sequencing operations are integrated with our Biorepository and Bioinformatics teams to keep all stages of a collaborator’s studies connected. The CAG sequencing lab offers cutting edge technologies in the Genomics field: NovaSeq, Single Cell 10xGenomics, various library preparations including bulk RNAseq, Whole Genome/Whole Exome, and Sanger Sequencing (including fragment analysis).

When it comes to using a mouse or rat genome to study human disease, you need to have the best experimental model available to advance your research and propel discovery. That’s where we come in. The Transgenic Core at Children’s Hospital Research Institute, working in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania CRISPR Core Facility, can build complex mouse and rat models, genetically manipulating the mouse and rat genome to meet your specific research needs utilizing cutting-edge and classical genetic engineering approaches.
The Transgenic Core is a service sponsored by the CHOP Research Institution to enable investigators to drive cutting edge basic and bench-to-bedside research. The Mission of the Core is to provide a cost-effective fast method for the generation and preservation of genetically altered mice or rats for the research community. Please visit the Transgenic Core table for more information about the services we offer, we look forward to meeting you.

The Core generates induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from somatic cells including peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. The Core has established standard operating procedures for:
1) Pluripotent stem cell growth and maintenance
2) Genome editing technologies including CRISPR-CAS9
3) Differentiation to germ layer and derivative tissues of interest.
The Core provides enrichment training courses for investigators interested in learning how to work with pluripotent stem cells and/or establish the pluripotent stem cell technology in their own labs.

The Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Core, established in 2008 by the Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, serves the research needs of CHOP, the University of Pennsylvania, and outside academic communities in the field of human pluripotent stem cell biology.

The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has established a state-of-the-art cGMP clinical vector manufacturing suite for both adenoassociated and lentiviral vectors. The facility is under the direction of Han van der Loo, a leading expert in clinical vector production and characterization. Our goal is to help to realize the enormous promise of gene transfer therapy to address unmet medical needs.

The Clinical Vector Core provides manufacturing of clinical and pre-clinical Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors of serotypes 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, and Lentivirus (LV) vectors. Novel or modified serotypes will require development prior to scale-up. Products for clinical use are manufactured in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. To support pre-clinical work, including pharmacology and toxicology studies, we offer products manufactured using a GMP-comparable process. Research-grade products for proof-of- principle and bridging studies are also offered.

The Core Facility uses a patented vector production technology and a highly efficient purification process that uses combined column and gradient centrifugation-based process steps. This system has manufactured clinical-grade AAV vectors that have demonstrated excellent safety in several clinical studies. We are also in the process of implementing GMP Lenti vector production.

Our production efficiency is achieved along with exceptionally high vector product quality. Our final product is highly purified, containing negligible amounts of impurities such as empty capsid. Prior to the final release of the clinical vectors, the vector product is subjected to numerous tests to ensure quality. We also provide federal regulatory documentation and necessary certifications.

Recently, the Clinical Vector Core has also installed Lenti viral vector production capacity. Drawing from both in-house and newly acquired expertise, our Lenti group has quickly implemented an efficient production process that can meet our collaborators' clinical protocol needs.

Our proven track record, consistency, high vector production capacity and world-class expertise have enabled us to achieve national recognition. We served as the designated NHLBI contract laboratory for AAV vector design, cGMP manufacture, and certification from 2007 to 2017, and continue to work with sponsors in government, academia and industry, nationally and internationally.

We are committed to collaborating with investigators to meet their studies’ unique biostatistics and data management needs to ensure that the answers to research questions are supported by valid, statistically sound data and results. Our team of highly motivated and experienced biostatisticians can assist you in the design of experiments, planning of clinical protocols, analysis and interpretation of data, and presentation and dissemination of results. Our data management team members have expertise in designing case report forms, developing databases, creating data management plans, developing metrics to report on study progress, and delivering high quality datasets for analysis.

We also offer free limited consulting for data management and statistical questions.

Our team offers the unique advantage of experience with the submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA). We are available to investigators seeking guidance with clinical trial start-up, oversight, and regulatory submission.

Comparative Medicine Services Core
The Comparative Medicine Services Core provides comprehensive support for nonclinical research programs. Because successful nonclinical development requires thoughtful planning and early strategic alignment, we encourage investigators and sponsors to engage with our team as soon as a drug or device is anticipated to advance toward human clinical trials.
Our Core is staffed by highly trained professionals with the expertise to design, conduct, and oversee a wide range of animal studies. We are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare, scientific rigor, procedural reproducibility, and exceptional customer service. CMSC anticipates developing capacity for GLP-like compliance in the near future.

Comprehensive Support Across the Nonclinical Lifecycle
The Comparative Medicine Services Core offers end-to-end support throughout all phases of your nonclinical study program, including:
• Grant and funding application support
• Budget development and financial planning
• Experimental design and study planning
• Study protocol drafting, implementation, and management
• IACUC protocol guidance and consultation
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) development, management, and archiving
• Training delivery and documentation
• Study execution and data generation
• Secure archiving of study materials and data
Areas of Expertise
The Comparative Medicine Services Core specializes in, but is not limited to, the following study types:
• Pharmacokinetic studies
• Biodistribution studies
• Toxicology and reproductive toxicology studies
• Medical device testing
• Surgical model development

The Research Vector Core (RVC) provides premium recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) and lentiviral vectors to support basic research and preclinical studies. As part of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the RVC is committed to manufacturing high-quality vectors using optimized, industry-recognized production and purification processes.
With extensive expertise in producing custom vector constructs at multiple scales, the RVC offers state-of-the-art technology, rigorous quality control standards, and expert technical support. Our team partners with investigators to enable efficient, reliable gene transfer and to accelerate translational research and therapeutic development.

The CHOP Engineered Cell Therapy Core (ECTC) provides a resource for researchers with promising proof- of-concept to advance their chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or other cell therapy research through all stages of the preclinical process, including design, construction, testing, and validation.

We work with researchers at CHOP, Penn, other academic institutions, and industry to provide a wide variety of laboratory and consultatory services.

Our Core is equipped to support both routine testing and more elaborate collaborative projects. We provide expert guidance in the design, construction, and selection of CARs and other cell therapies against a multitude of targets and diseases. We also offer small-scale lentivirus production and small-scale T cell transduction and expansion for experimental purposes.

Whether your goals are to simply save time on your project or to initiate a collaborative partnership, the ECTC looks forward to advancing your cell therapy research.

The Pathology Core provides histopathology, Immunohistochemistry, tissue microarray, and imaging services to researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and the surrounding academic community. Our technical and professional staff has extensive experience in all aspects of tissue processing, histological techniques, antibody work-up, and morphologic analysis. In addition, we offer tools to facilitate high throughput analysis of tissue sections and imaging. The Pathology Core is located in the A Level of Colket Translational Research Building (CTRB) Room A410. Our staff is available for consultation, troubleshooting, and assistance in planning and interpreting experiments histopathology and related techniques.

The Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory serves the research community at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania by providing access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and technical expertise. Located in Suite 1207 of the Abramson Pediatric Research Center, the Core offers a full range of services, including sample preparation, advanced multi-color analysis, and high-speed cell sorting. Our experienced staff delivers personalized training and project-specific consultations to help investigators seamlessly integrate cutting-edge flow cytometry technologies into their research programs.

The Small Molecule and Metabolite Core Laboratory focuses on quantitative bioanalytical assay development, validation and implementation for drugs, metabolites and biomarkers in blood, serum, plasma, urine, ultrafiltrate and microdialysate utilizing mass spectrometry techniques.

As part of the Center for Single Cell Biology, our service core provides convenient access to cutting-edge single-cell, spatial and in situ technologies to CHOP, UPenn and the wider research community. Established in early 2022, we are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, experienced research assistants and bioinformaticians to offer in-house experimental and computational support to your single-cell research. Our services include:
• 10x Genomics single cell assays
• 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist and Visium HD spatial transcriptomics
• 10x Genomics Xenium in situ spatial transcriptomics
• Vizgen MERSCOPE in situ spatial transcriptomics
• NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler RNA and protein assays

We thrive in providing high-quality and cost-effective service work. We are happy to consult with you on how our services can facilitate your researchWe thrive in providing high-quality and cost-effective service work. We are happy to consult with you on how our services can facilitate your research. zhangm5@chop.edu 3501 Civic Center Blvd, CTRB A450D, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Established in 2006, the CAG Genotyping Laboratory is fully equipped with state-of-art liquid handling technology and experienced staff members. The CAG genotyping core offers both standard and custom Illumina array project design. With the capacity to process >2300 samples/week and generate >480 million genotypes per day, the genotyping core fully integrates with our Biorepository and Bioinformatics group, offering the collaborator the opportunity for a seamless experience from DNA extraction to data release.

Established in 2006, the CAG Biorepository is one of the world’s largest and most diverse pediatric biobanks, hosting more than 600,000 biological samples that have been genotyped or sequenced in CAG’s CLIA and CAP-accredited high-throughput centers. This core offers services in DNA and RNA extraction and QC.

Led by experts with more than 10 years of gene therapy clinical trial experience, the CIGT team aims to offer more breakthrough therapies to our patients sooner, by streamlining the startup of complex gene therapy trials and ensuring licensed gene therapies are available in our clinics.

High Throughput Sequencing Core (HTS Core) is a state of the art, full-service facility providing instrumentation, library preparation, and sequencing services to CHOP, UPenn, and external investigators in genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic studies.

The Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) empowers CHOP researchers with state-of-the-art translational imaging capabilities. Our robust imaging platform integrates multiple modalities—including MRI, PET, CT, Optical, and US—essential for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response in vivo in small animal models.
The technical director partners with principal investigators to move their science projects forward by:
• Selecting the optimal imaging modality
• Design and optimization of acquisition protocols
• Expert execution of in vivo imaging experiments
• Training for new users on image acquisition
• Advanced data analysis and project management
The SAIF ensures customers with the highest level of technical expertise and translational capability. We offer the tools necessary to bridge preclinical findings to clinical applications.

The LAIF Core facilitates advanced MR image-guided interventional and noninvasive procedures to support research across a broad range of disease areas, including neurodegenerative, cardiothoracic, and reproductive disorders. Our imaging capabilities span structural MRI, diffusion imaging, DCE and ASL perfusion, spectroscopy, angiography, cardiac imaging, tissue elastography, functional imaging, flow quantification, and quantitative T1, T2, and T2* mapping. A major advantage of preclinical MRI is the ability to use imaging methods and pulse sequences that closely parallel those used on clinical scanners, creating a strong platform for seamless translation from bench to bedside.
In collaboration with the Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR), we encourage investigators to consult with our teams on all scientific, medical, technical, and compliance aspects of studies involving large animal models. Investigators are expected to obtain Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval before initiating study activities.
Beyond image acquisition, the LAIF Core provides comprehensive data processing, post-processing, and quantitative image analysis support to help investigators extract meaningful outcomes from complex imaging datasets. These services include image reconstruction workflows, multimodal image registration, segmentation, volumetric and regional quantification, diffusion and tract-based analysis, spectroscopy processing, and development of customized pipelines tailored to specific study needs. We also support investigators in generating high-quality preliminary data for grant applications, instrument proposals, and translational research initiatives by helping design imaging strategies, optimize acquisition protocols, and deliver rigorous quantitative analyses that strengthen scientific aims.
For larger research programs, the LAIF Core can assist with processing and managing large-scale imaging datasets to support longitudinal studies, multisubject analyses, and publication-ready results. Our goal is to provide investigators with robust imaging, analytical, and consultative support that advances discovery, strengthens competitiveness for external funding, and accelerates dissemination of impactful research findings.

The Zebrafish Core offers all resources for zebrafish research and provides fish husbandry. We design and perform experiments, teach zebrafish techniques and advice and support researchers. Our special expertise disease modeling by creation of mutant and transgenic lines, analysis of disease phenotypes, and drug testing.

The Gastrointestinal Epithelium Modeling (GEM) Core is a component of the GEM Program - a collaborative research effort focused on accelerating discovery and innovation using patient tissue-derived organoids. GEM Core staff generate and maintain a living biobank of tissue-derived organoids with matched original tissue and blood specimens and provide access to specialized training, protocols, and reagents.

The CHOP Biorepository Resource Center (BioRC) serves to accession, process, store, and manage distribution of research biospecimens for biobanking efforts. We offer specimen processing, and RNA and DNA extraction services.

The Proteomics Core facility specializes in bottom-up, mass spectrometry-based proteomics with a commitment to quality, rigor, problem-solving, and innovation. Our goal is to provide expert guidance to the scientific community on optimizing the use of this technique for answering biological questions and to generate top-tier mass spectrometry-based proteomics datasets.