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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

 

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