The Cancer Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is a basic research facility devoted to the understanding of fundamental biology of cancer, particularly human cancer. CSHL is one of 60 institutions funded by the Cancer Centers Program of the National Cancer Institute. Funding from the NCI supports twelve Shared Research Resources, which provide specialized, state-of-the art equipment and techniques that are available to all Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists at a reasonable cost. These facilities are continually updated and revised as technology and research needs change.

In addition to these scientific resources, the Laboratory has an Information Technology Department to provide basic computer support, and a Graphic Arts Department to assist in preparation of artwork for publications, presentations and posters. Centralized tissue culture facilities are set up in several of the Laboratory’s buildings.

The Animal Shared Resource houses and maintains small animals for research, primarily mice, rats and frogs. The facility has the capacity for housing more than 7000 cages of mice. Animal technicians provide routine husbandry and care of the animals, and can perform routine experimental techniques such as blood collections, inoculation, euthanasia, necropsies, restraint and other experimental techniques.

The Bioinformatics Shared Resource assists scientists with their computational needs. These needs can range from access to genome databases, data analysis programs and scientific visualization tools to creation of new software, databases and tools for data management.

The Flow Cytometry (FACS) Shared Resource provides equipment, services, and support for cell sorting and fluorescence quantification using flow cytometry. Two Flow Cytometers are available and can be used for sorting of specific cell types within complex populations based on DNA content, specific protein expression or cell size. More routine analyses are also performed, such as DNA content analysis, staining for dead cell exclusion or immunofluorescent quantification of surface markers.

The Gene Targeting Shared Resource provides three services. The facility (1) generates transgenic mice by pronuclear injection of expression constructs provided by the investigators; (2) generates chimeric mice using genetically modified ES cell lines provided by the investigators; and (3) re-derives specific pathogen free (SPF) sub-lines of pre-existing mutant mouse strains by re-implanting mutant embryos into the oviducts of SPF host females. In addition to offering these standard services, the facility assists investigators in experiments that require sophisticated embryo manipulation or cell/embryo microinjection techniques.

The Microarray Shared Resource provides state-of-the-art equipment for genomic analysis. This includes an in-house Microarray Facility, the Affymetrix GeneChip System and a Perkin-Elmer 7700 for quantitative PCR. The Microarray facility prints human and mouse microarrays for gene expression analysis, and will also print custom DNA sets. Reagents for experiments, analysis software and in-depth training are provided.

The Instrumentation Shared Resource encompasses an in-house workshop for repair and maintenance of scientific equipment. Machinists and technicians also design and fabricate specialized laboratory equipment and parts.

The Microscopy Shared Resource houses a variety of different microscopes which are available for use. Services available include (I) standard transmission and scanning electron microscopy, (2) fluorescence microscopy including 3-D data sets from confocal microscopy, (3) immunoelectron microscoy (enzymatic and gold labelling), (4) microinjection, (5) live cell imaging, (6) DNA spreads and (7) evaluation of subcellular fractionation precedures by negative staining or thin sectioning. In addition to microscope use, the facility provides technical assistance in preparing cells or tissues for immunofluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, or immunoelectron microscopy.

The Antibody Shared Resource provides a complete hybridoma development program designed to produce hybridoma cell lines that secrete antibodies specific to the given antigen. Experienced staff handle all stages of immunization, fusion, primary screening of hybridomas, cell culture, single cell cloning, freezing and storage of hybridoma lines and production of monoclonal antibodies. Contact Carmelita Bautista for information (516.367.8819, bautista@cshl.edu).

The DNA Sequencing Shared Resource offers full-service fluorescent-based automated DNA sequencing. Reactions are carried out by Facility technicians, and data is returned to the investigator. Additional sequencers are available for investigators to carry out and analyze their own sequencing reactions. GeneScan software is available on the shared sequencer for DNA fragment analysis.

The Proteomics Shared Resource provides services to elucidate the primary structure of novel
proteins and post-translational modifications. Three general strategies are available: (1) classical Edman degradation; (2) MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; and (3) ion trap electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (ESI MS) integrated with a reversed phase HPLC to perform LC-MS/MS analysis.