Technology Expertise Networks and Core Facilities Heidelberg
Scientific Core Facilities and Services Heidelberg
Scientists at the DFKZ and its partner sites can rely on broad portfolio of research infrastructures for their research projects. These include experimental core facilities, data management and IT services. Core facilities are centralized laboratories that operate as user laboratories or as full service units, or both, depending on the technology in question. They offer access to high-end instrumentation, provide scientific and technical advice to users, and are engaged in method development and technology-oriented research. Data management and IT services cover the IT infrastructure demands of the DKFZ and provide also software tools for organizing and handling research data properly.
Below, the DKFZ Core Facilities are listed according to their area of specialty.
Genome, Transcriptome & Epigenome
Next Generation Sequencing (S. Wolf)
Microarray (M. Bewerunge-Hudler)
Single Cell OpenLab (J.-P. Mallm)
Proteome
Proteomics (D. Helm)
Single Cell OpenLab (J.-P. Mallm)
Microarray (M. Bewerunge-Hudler)
Antibodies (I. Hofmann)
Metabolome
Metabolomics (G. Poschet, with Heidelberg University)
Cellular and Preclinical Imaging
Light Microscopy (F. Bestvater)
Electron Microscopy (K. Richter)
Small Animal Imaging (M. Jugold)
Radiopharmaceuticals and Preclinical Trials (I. Kurth)
Cytometry and Screening
Flow Cytometry (S. Schmitt)
Chemical Biology (U.Uhrig, with EMBL)
Whole Tissue Analyses
Light Microscopy (F. Bestvater)
Single Cell OpenLab (J.-P. Mallm)
Reagents ans Resources for Cancer Resarch
Antibodies (I. Hofmann)
Cellular Tools and Clone Repository (R. Will)
Radiopharmaceuticals and Preclinical Trials (I. Kurth)
Dieter Morszeck Biorepository (S. Röhling)
Animal Services
Center for Preclinical Research (K. Reifenberg)
Tumor Models (N.N.)
Microbiological Diagnostics (K. Schmidt)
Transgenic Service (F. van der Hoeven / B. Armstrong)
Research Data Management
Omics-IT and Data Management (I. Buchhalter)
OMERO@DKFZ (internal link)
Library & IT Services
Information Technology (C. Galuschka)
Central Library (D. Sitek)
Technical Expertise Network: Immune Monitoring
Since its establishment in 2015, the DKFZ/NCT immune monitoring unit has supported numerous clinical trials including >700 patients and continuously expanded its methods portfolio. We currently provide blood and tissue-based immune monitoring to 14 clinical studies, which include Heidelberg IITs as well as external phase I and II studies. These trials include patients with brain, lung, esophageal, colon, breast and skin cancers treated with immune-modulatory antibodies, vaccines, radiation and cellular therapies.
We aim to develop highly customized approaches and are driven by scientific curiosity. At the same time, we utilize a quality management system, including a panel of validated immune assays, to meet GMP and GCLP requirements of selected trials.
Technological innovation is currently transforming immunology. We are leaving behind tedious screening of pre-selected parameters in bulk populations, in favor of high-resolution profiling of immune receptor repertoires, cellular function, cell state and history:
- High parametric flow cytometry (BD FACS Lyric, 12 fluorochrome parameters) for phenotypic and functional parameters provides us with basic information on the cellular composition of blood and tissue samples. We aim to increase multiplexed measurements of fresh samples to preserve the majority of cells for down-stream analysis.
- We measure immune reactivity and antigen specificity using ELIspot, ELISA, Luminex, as well flow-cytometry and sequencing based assays, to reveal e.g. the cytokine profile, the frequency of antigen-reactive cells and/or the receptors involved in antigen-recognition.
- TCR deep-sequencing and discovery: Immune repertoire analysis has emerged as a powerful tool to understand and track immune responses. We perform DNA-based TCR beta-chain sequencing using a commercial kit (ImmunoSeq) and in-house sequencing facilities and are happy to assist DKTK partners in immune-repertoire analysis.
- Single-cell immune profiling: High-throughput barcoded single cell (sc) analysis represents a quantum-leap for immune-monitoring purposes, as it can resolve functionality in the extreme diversity of immune cells and in parallel deliver their antigen-specific receptors. Using the 10x technology, we can obtain information on TCR, transcriptome and/or proteome of individual cells for up to 10.000 cells/sample.
- Strategic combination of functional assays with bulk- and sc sequencing technologies using blood, tissue, expanded T cells or TIL cultures enables the rapid discovery of candidate tumor-reactive receptors that are cloned and undergo in vitro functional validation.
For more information visit the Immune Monitoring DKTK website.
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