Core Facilities
The Koch Institute features 11 core facilities that provide key technical services to our faculty. From routine (though essential) support services to advanced technical and consulting services, these cores facilitate and enhance the important research being conducted on a daily basis. Many of the facilities also offer training programs that enable Koch Institute staff, students, and postdoctoral fellows to acquire the additional technical and intellectual expertise needed to advance both their work and their careers.
The costs of these cores are partially defrayed by funds from a number of sources, most notably a Cancer Center Support Grant from the NCI to the KI. In recognition of this support, priority access is given to KI members, NCI-funded research projects and other contributing user groups. However, the KI is strongly committed to enabling biomedical research at MIT. Thus, to the extent permitted by available capacity, a number of the cores are accessible to the broader MIT community. See individual cores for details about access, user policies and service rates.
Applied Therapeutics & Whole Animal Imaging
The Applied Therapeutics & Whole Animal Imaging Core Facility assists and accelerates the process of moving scientific breakthroughs from the benchtops of the Koch Institute to the clinics for cancer patients. Our primary goal is to support and encourage the translational efforts using refined mouse models of human cancers to test
- biosensors for tumor detection and monitoring
- diagnostic assays
- cancer vaccines
- drug delivery systems and tumor-targeting modalities
- chemotherapeutic response and drug resistance
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 and microCT technologies. more >>
Bioinformatics & Computing
The Bioinformatics & Computing Core Facility provides Koch Institute researchers with assistance and training in a wide range of bioinformatics related topics. 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. more >>
Biopolymers & Proteomics
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.
Overview of services
- routine Sanger DNA sequencing
- next-generation sequencing (Illumina platform)
- mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches for identification, characterization, or quantitation of proteins from simple to complex mixtures
- mass spectrometry-based mass measurement and mass mapping
- peptide synthesis and purification, including peptide arrays
- high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis and purification
ES Cell & Transgenics
This 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. The Rippel Mouse ES Cell & Transgenics Core Facility specializes in assisting researchers with the design, generation, maintenance, and analysis of mice containing designer mutations. We also provide skilled assistance with a variety of protocols utilizing mouse ES cells (establishment of new lines, differentiation into specific cell types).
Overview of services
- Gene targeting in ES cells, including assistance with targeting design and analysis
- Injection of DNA, ES cells, or virus into pre-implantation mouse embryos
- Mice containing tissue-specific Cre, FLP, or reporter genes as well control and wildtype strains
- Provide assistance, training, and reagents for ES cell, embryo and mouse analysis
- Provide detailed methods for protocols used with mouse/ES cell studies
Flow Cytometry
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility provides high-speed cell sorting services as well as access, training, and support in the use of bench-top analysis flow cytometers. more >>
Glassware Preparation
The Glassware Preparation Core Facility provides centralized services to all internal Koch Institute member laboratories, with the primary goal of supplying sterile glassware at an exceptionally high, tissue culture-grade standard. more >>
Histology
The Histology Core Facility assists investigators in producing quality histological slides from frozen, paraffin-embedded, and resin-embedded tissues, thus enabling investigators to better evaluate the pathologic consequences of various mutations or treatments. Services range from hematoxylin and eosin-stained and special stained slides, to advice and assistance in performing immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and in-situ hybridization. more >>
Media Preparation
The Media Preparation Core Facility provides internal Koch Institute member laboratories with a wide array of high-quality custom-made bacterial, yeast, and tissue culture media. more >>
Microarray Technologies
The Microarray Technologies Core Facility is a shared institutional resource providing investigators with integrated facilities for microarray experiments on Affymetrix and Agilent platforms, including hybridization, scanning, processing and image analysis, and microarray validation tools such as RNA quality assessment and real time PCR. more >>
Microscopy
The Microscopy Core is a centralized facility housing state-of-the art imaging equipment, with a complete range of image acquisition and data analysis capabilities. Expert experimental advice, instrument training and access, and fee-based technical service are available for multiple imaging platforms:
- Standard light and epifluorescence microscopy
- Deconvolution-based high-resolution fluorescence microscopy (DeltaVision)
- Confocal microscopy (spinning disk)
- Total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF)
- Spectral karyotyping (SKY) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
- Laser capture microdissection microscopy
- Standard transmission electron and immunoelectron microscopy
Shared Research Resources
The Shared Research Resources Core Facility oversees maintenance of shared research spaces (cold rooms, warm rooms, tissue culture rooms and darkrooms) and distributed equipment (autoclaves, ice machines, X-ray film developers, etc). The Core also coordinates implementation of the MIT Environment, Health & Safety management system (EHS-MS) by providing safety inspections, laboratory safety, staff training and hazardous waste management. Finally, the Core oversees dedicated KI research spaces developed to provide oversight of, and enable safe working practices with, high titer VSVg-pseudotyped viruses, high-risk isotopes, and the cesium γ-cell radiation source. Access is reserved for KI members.
New KI Core Facilities
A number of new Core Facilities are currently in development:
Nanotechnology Materials
This Core will provide support for new materials discovery and optimization, enabling development of drug- and gene-delivery vehicles, imaging, nano- and microparticles, and devices. Services will include in vivo testing in conjunction with the Applied Therapeutics & Whole Animal Imaging Core, as well as a range of tools for physical and chemical characterization of all types of nanoparticle systems.
High Throughput Screening
This Core will facilitate the development of a wide range of experimental assays into high throughput screening strategies. Support for assay development will include liquid handling robotic systems, high content imaging capabilities, and management of RNAi, small molecule and nanoparticle libraries.
Protein Engineering
This Facility will support phage- and yeast-display screening technologies for peptide and antibody affinity binding.
