Core which provides methodologies, technology and infrastructure to support investigators in the use of human islets for research studies for the Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center. It isolates and prepares human and rodent islets/beta cells and cell lines for investigator-initiated research and generates specific viral vectors (adenovirus and lentivirus) for gene delivery of cDNAs and shRNAs of interest to beta cells and other islet cell types.

Core provides information and tools for Einstein and Montefiore investigators from initial study planning stage through analysis and data output. Facility services include: mass spectrometry analysis, including stable isotopes, as well as research-grade determination of lipids, and metabolic markers for human subjects and animal model projects; High-throughput robotics for semi-automated high-quality sample preparation and analysis by immunoassay and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS); Support for novel developmental projects featuring applications of LC/MS and two-site bead-based assays;
Research quality analysis of metabolites for human and animal samples using Olympus AU400 autoanalyzer; Advanced training in analytical chemistry.

Core services include consultation, technical support and training and mentoring in clinical and translational research methods that are specifically applicable to diabetes, its complications and related metabolic disorders. Personel provides expertise in first-in-human and mechanistic studies in integrative physiology, in clinical trials of diabetes and obesity, and in application of new technologies.

The Epigenomics Shared Facility (ESF), part of Einstein’s Center for Epigenomics and an Illumina CSPro (certified service provider) laboratory, offers massively-parallel sequencing (MPS) including fully-automated library preparation, quality control and assurance, and a number of assays to study the genome/epigenome. Data analytical services are provided by the Computational Genomics Facility.