Facilities
The Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research (NCCCR), though a newly established entity, is rapidly evolving into a full-fledged research center developing strategies to treat childhood cancer. The success of the center relies on the talented and dedicated researchers we have recruited to accomplish our goals and by the tools and technologies made available to them. To that end, NCCCR is constantly expanding its repertoire of tools and providing vital technologies to achieve research objectives. Below is a brief description of the equipment at NCCCR, as well as the shared facilities and services to which NCCCR members have access. These include the BioImaging Center at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, the Biomolecular Core, the Cell Science and Proteomics Core, Biomedical Analysis Laboratory, and the Small Animal Molecular Imaging Facility at Thomas Jefferson University.
The NCCCR is equipped with sophisticated technologies for cellular and molecular biology research.
NCCCR is home to the powerful Leica TCS SP5 and 3I Marianas TIRF systems to perform live cell imaging. The Leica TCS SP5 is a spectral laser-scanning confocal microscope equipped with a two-scanner system and a full range of lasers from 405 nm to 633 nm, as well as an environmental chamber. The system is capable of imaging at a broad range of speeds for all imaging needs including live cell functional imaging and the highest resolution structural imaging with multi-channel capabilities. The Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i) Marianas TIRF system is is a fully integrated work station outfitted for both live and fixed-cell wide-field epifluorescence and TIRF microscopy at high temporal resolution. Additionally, the NCCCR faculty has access to core facilities for electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and advanced proteomic approaches at Delaware Biotechnology Institute.
Please visit http://www.dbi.udel.edu/core/sharedfac.html for more information.
The Electric Cell Impedance Sensing system (ECIS 1600R) (Applied BioPhysics) provides researchers with an advanced, automated, non-invasive method to monitor cell behavior in real-time and without the need for employing labels. The ECIS 1600R is a multi-purpose research instrument having the capacity to monitor up to 16 individual tissue cultures. Barrier function of confluent monolayers, cell attachment and spreading, cell migration, extravasation, proliferation, apoptosis, and other parameters can be measured with the ECIS 1600R.
The Geliance 600 Imaging System (Perkin-Elmer) is a high performance bioimaging system for visible, fluorescence, and chemiluminescence applications. The Geliance 600 consists of a darkroom with upper white lighting, UV transilluminator, UV-to-visible light converter screen, 1.4-mega-pixel CCD camera, and a motorized 10X zoom lens for the camera. Its versatility allows for a wide range of samples to be visualized and documented, including electrophoresis gels, colony counting on agar plates, autoradiographs (positive or negative films), membranes (DNA, RNA, Protein), quantum dot imaging, spot blots, and chemiluminescence.
We have a top of the line Victor X4 Multilabel Plate Reader (Perkin Elmer) that handles various plate formats and perform multiple assay types. Detection methods include luminescence, fluorescence intensity, UV-absorbance, visible absorbance and time-resolved fluorescence. It is outfitted with an 8-position excitation filter wheel for housing a broad spectrum of routinely used filters (ranging from 350nm to 750nm). It has the capability to modulate the temperature, yielding greater control and precision in kinetic assays.
We are also fortunate and pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Napper, who was formerly the Director at the Penn Center for Molecular Discovery. Dr. Napper heads the High-Throughput Screening and Drug Discovery facility at NCCCR. In the coming months, he will acquire the necessary robotic technology for automated liquid and plate handling and data acquisition for high-throughput applications.
