LCCC Translational Genomics Lab (TGL)

Leadership

Charles M. Perou, PhD – Faculty Director

Jason D. Merker, MD PhD – Faculty Director

Adam D. Pfefferle, PhD – Director

Description

The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) Translational Genomics Lab (TGL) is a medium-throughput core facility established in 2011 to provide comprehensive genomic services for investigators. Located in Marsico Hall on UNC’s medical campus, TGL has 1,500 square feet of laboratory space and 200 square feet of office space. TGL’s mission is to support translational human cancer genomics research at UNC by providing a resource that balances rigor and flexibility to meet the needs of academic and clinical research that can ultimately produce optimized and validated processes for adoption in clinical labs.

Services

TGL performs sample processing and analyses for the molecular, pathologic, and genomic characterization of patient-derived specimens in preclinical research projects and clinical protocols. Our laboratory employs highly automated, as well as manual, platforms for reproducible medium-throughput 10x Genomics single cell assays, NanoString assays, nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, and next-generation sequencing of tissue, cells, and blood samples. We have extensive experience generating usable data from highly degraded FFPE samples that would otherwise be rejected as unusable by larger sequencing facilities. Services are performed by 3 Research Specialists and 1 Development Technologist.

Service offerings include: DNA and RNA extraction from FFPE and snap frozen tissues and cells; nucleic acid QC (Qubit, TapeStation); Twist Bioscience DNA library preparation (whole genome, whole exome and UNCseq^TM panels); Illumina RNA library preparation (TruSeq Stranded mRNA and TruSeq Stranded Total RNA); 10x genomics single cell library preparation (gene expression and ATAC); NanoString GeoMx library preps; iSeq and MiSeq library QC; NextSeq2000 sequencing; NovaSeq6000 sequencing; NanoString nCounter assays (mRNA, miRNA, miRGE, and CNV); and NanoString CosMx assays.

Milestones

TGL was a library preparation site for the UNCseq clinical sequencing initiative (LCCC1108/NCT01457196) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The facility has supported >30 clinical trials, performed >300 10x Genomic assays, >16,000 nucleic acid extractions, >15,000 NGS library preparations, >2000 NanoString GeoMx library preparations, >11,000 sequenced libraries, and >12,000 NanoString assays.

Equipment

• Sample and Reagent Storage – two 4°C refrigerators, five -20°C freezers, and three -80°C freezers that are continuously tracked by Minus80 Monitoring
• Sample Processing – two biological fume hoodsTissue Homogenization – one Omni International Bead Ruptor Elite
• Cell Counters – one Invitrogen Countess II, one Invitrogen Countess 3 FL
• Nucleic Acid Extraction – two KingFisher Flex Systems
• Nucleic Acid QC – two Qubit Flex, two Agilent TapeStations
• DNA Fragmentation – one Covaris E220 sonicator
• Library Preparation – one 10x Genomics Chromium Controller, one 10x Genomics Chromium iX Controller, two Hamilton NGS STAR liquid handlers
• Next-Generation Sequencing – one Illumina iSeq, one Illumina MiSeq, one Illumina NextSeq2000, one Illumina NovaSeq6000
• Digital Nucleic Acid Measurements – one NanoString nCounter MAX Digital Analyzer, two NanoString nCounter MAX Prep Stations
• Spatial Multiomics Single-Cell Imager – one NanoString CosMx

Website

https://unclineberger.org/tgl/

Contacts