Koch Institute Core Facilities

Animal Imaging and Preclinical Testing

The Animal Imaging & Preclinical Testing core facilityassists and accelerates the process of moving scientific breakthroughs from the bench tops of the Koch Institute to the clinics for cancer patients.

Thr primary goal is to support and encourage the translational efforts using refined mouse models of human cancers to test:

• Chemotherapeutic response and drug resistance
• Biosensors for tumor detection and monitoring
• Diagnostic assays
• Cancer vaccines
• Drug delivery systems and tumor-targeted modalities

In addition to providing assistance with design, approval and execution of relevant preclinical trials, the facility also provides access to instrumentation for in vivo, whole animal imaging, including bioluminescence, fluorescence, ultrasound, MRI, PET and microCT technologies.

Contact :
Scott Malstrom, Ph.D.
Facility Director
malstrom@mit.edu
Office: 617-715-4312
Fax: 617-324-3912
Building 76-188

Bioinformatics and Computing Core Facility

The Bioinformatics & Computing Facility provides Koch Institute researchers with assistance and training in a wide range of bioinformatics related topics. Access is typically reserved for KI members. In some circumstances, access may be available to non-member MIT users. Examples include assistance with experimental design and subsequent analysis of next-generation sequencing (Illumina platform) and microarray experiments, genome annotation projects and other sequence and phylogenetic analysis applications. The Core also provides Koch Institute members with critical data backup as well as installation and maintenance of desktop hardware and a variety of software, including scientific applications. Additional information is available on the Bioinformatics & Computing Facility's site. Contacts: Charlie Whittaker charliew@mit.edu, x4-0337, 76-189 Sebastian Hoersch hoersch@mit.edu, x4-1728, 76-189 Paola Favaretto paolaf@mit.edu, x5-4755 Arjun "AJ" Bhutkar arjun@mit.edu, x4-7642

Biopolymers and Proteomics Core Facility

The Biopolymers & Proteomics Core Facility provides MIT researchers with integrated synthetic and analytical capabilities for biological materials, including DNA, proteins and nanoparticles. The Core encompasses a wide range of sophisticated technical expertise and state-of-the-art instrumentation. Access is available to all members of the MIT community, to the extent permitted by available capacity. Priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups in recognition of funding support. In special circumstances, access may be available to non-MIT users. Services: mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches for identification, characterization, or quantitation of proteins from simple to complex mixtures MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry peptide synthesis and purification, including peptide arrays high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis and purification Contact: Biopolymers Division Richard Cook cook@mit.edu, 76-181, x3-1685 Mass spectrometry Rick Schiavoni rpschiav@mit.edu Proteomics Amanda Del Rosario aweaver@mit.edu

ES Cells and Transgenics Core Facility

The ES Cells and Transgenics Core Facility, a shared resource of the Koch Institute, provides fee-for-service support to all MIT investigators who utilize novel mouse models to study human diseases such as cancer. Access is available to all members of the MIT community, to the extent permitted by available capacity. Priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups in recognition of funding support. Services Include: Embryonic Stem Cell Culture – gene targeting, assistance with vector design, importation and testing of lines from outside sources, generation of feeders and more. Microinjection – mouse ES cells into blastocysts, DNA into pronucleus of fertilized mouse eggs, and lentivirus into fertilized eggs. Repository of Reagent Mice – containing Cre, Flp, EGFP, Luciferase, LacZ and other useful strains. Much more... Contact: Facility Director Aurora Burds Connor, Ph.D. aaburds@mit.edu Office: 617-452-3658 FAX 617-324-3912 ES Cell Suite, 76-195 Sara Elmiligy Kate Anderson phone 617-324-3911 Microinjection Suites Peimin Qi Tony Chavarria Allan Discua Contacts for DCM services DCM Home Page >>

Flow Cytometry Core Facility

The Flow Cytometry Core Facility provides high-speed cell sorting services as well as access, training and support in the use of benchtop analysis flow cytometers. Access is available to all members of the MIT community, to the extent permitted by available capacity. Priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups in recognition of funding support. Services: High-end, staff assisted cell sorting, using four different high speed sorters Unassisted bench-top analysis available 24/7 Assisted benchtop analysis available by appointment Extensive training on bench-top analyzers Consulation on experimental design and data interpretation Contact: Glenn Paradis for info and training gap@mit.edu, x2-4132 76-279 (sorting lab) 76-273 (analyzers) 76-273 (data analysis)

Glassware Preparation Facility

The Glassware Preparation Core Facility provides KI labs and Core Facilities with a wide variety of sterile and non-sterile glass and labware. Our primary goal is to consistently provide sterile glassware at an exceptionally high, tissue culture-grade standard. Access is reserved for participating KI members. Glassware is stocked at specific locations on each floor of the Koch Institute, according to the needs of laboratories on each floor. Please notify the laboratory aide responsible for your lab if there are any major changes to your glassware needs. For those laboratories participating in the KI glassware program, glassware provided by the program is communal; if stock runs out on one floor, you may use glassware from any other floor. Glasswash services: In-lab pick-up - dirty glassware and pipettes, solid biohazard waste Sterile glassware and media bottles Non-sterile glass and plastic labware Sterile pipettes (volumetric, Pasteur, tissue culture) Sterile Milli-Q water Contact: 617-253-7822

Histology Core Facility

The Histology Core Facility has been established to assist the investigator in producing quality histological slides. Access is available to all members of the MIT community, to the extent permitted by available capacity. Priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups in recognition of funding support. We have the equipment and expertise to produce sections from frozen, paraffin-embedded, and resin-embedded tissues. We can produce routine hematoxylin and eosin stained slides and special stains, and can provide assistance to investigators performing immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in-situ hybridization. With these tools, the investigator will be better able to evaluate the pathologic consequences of various mutations or treatments. Services: Paraffin embedding and sectioning Frozen and resin sections Serial sectioning H&E and specialized stains (carbohydrate, connective tissue, nerve, hematologic) Contact: Kathleen Cormier cormier@mit.edu, 76-182 (lab), 617-258-8183

Media Preparation Facility

The Media Preparation Core Facility provides Koch Institute member laboratories with a wide array of high-quality custom-made bacterial, yeast and tissue culture media. Access is typically reserved for participating KI members. In some circumstances, access may be available to non-member MIT users Media Prep services: Custom-made bacterial, yeast and tissue culture media Contact: Bong Kim bongkim@mit.edu x8-7372

Genomics Core Facility

The Genomics Core Facility is a shared institutional resource, composed of the BioMicro Center and the Genomics: High Throughput Screening Facility providing KI investigators with integrated full sevice and walk-up facilities for genome-wide analyses. Services: massively parallel sequencing using the Illumina platform (both library preparation and sequencing) chromatin-IP handling array processing on Affymetrix and Agilent platforms real-time PCR and bioanalyzer services Dan HTS Suite with state-of-the-art automated screening instrumentation and an expert staff to enable oncology-focused biochemical and cell based screens using small molecule and shRNA libraries automated liquid handling, plate reading and high content microscopy instrumentation available for walk-up use> Access is available to all members of the MIT community, to the extent permitted by available capacity. Priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups in recognition of funding support. In special circumstances, access may be available to non-MIT users (details available on request from the Facility Director, Stuart Levine). Location: 68-316 Contacts: Stuart Levine Director slevine@mit.edu 617-452-2949 Shmulik Motola Wet lab manager shmulikm@mit.edu 617-715-4533

Microscopy and Imaging Core Facility

The Microscopy Core Facility provides experimental consultation, fee-for-service imaging assistance, and training in and access to several imaging platforms, image acquisition equipment and data analysis software packages. Access is typically reserved for KI members. In some circumstances, access may be available to non-member MIT users Services: light and epifluorescence microscopy deconvolution-based microscopy for sensitive, high-resolution fluorescence imaging spinning disk confocal microscopy total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy spectral karyotyping (SKY) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) laser capture microdissection standard transmission electron and immunoelectron microscopy Contact: Eliza Vasile for info and training evasile@mit.edu, x4-3804

Shared Research Resources

Services: building operations (cold/warm rooms, vacuum and compressed air systems, temperature, R/O water) shared equipment (ice machines, film developers, autoclaves, etc) CO2 system biosafety cabinet testing and repair EHS management system Contacts: Barry Hughes, Operations Administrator, abhughes@mit.edu E17-110 x3-3168 Barry’s Pager: 617-546-2359 Jennifer Lynn, EHS Coordinator, jlynn@mit.edu E17-110 x3-2463

Virus Production Core Facility

BL2+ safety level room for self-use One containment hood Equipment (inverted fluorescent scope, ultracentrifuge, incubators, minus 80C freezer, etc) Disposable plastics & supplies Contact: Jamie Cheah for info and training jcheah@mit.edu