The overarching goal of the Biobehavioral Core is to enhance the feasibility and success of Cancer Center investigators studying the link between lifestyle behaviors and effect of interventions, as well as biological indicators of cancer outcome, to reduce cancer risk and increase survival following the diagnosis of cancer. The resource provides expertise and guidance in developing and operationalizing behavioral research for Cancer Center members who do not necessarily have expertise in these areas, or who have limited resources to use high-quality, science-based methodology without the context and efficiency of a consolidated service core. The resource provides access to clinical and laboratory facilities and services that are otherwise not available for many Cancer Center investigators in the behavioral and population sciences and other programs.

The Biorepository and Tissue Technology Core in the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is a developing collection of plasma, serum, RNA stabilized buffy coat, urine, viable tumor samples, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor; with associated clinical information. Urine and blood-derived specimens are available from a wide variety of cancer cases and cancer-free controls. Tumor sample availability is more limited. Samples are collected from consented subjects, and de-identified clinical information on the subjects is available. The initial tumor collection is predominately from breast and gastrointestinal malignancies. The core can provide anonymized samples from the repository, or ongoing sample collection.
Go to the Biorepository and Tissue Technology Core Website

The The Biostatistics resource provides consultation and collaboration in study design and data collection. Statistical analysis and the provision of assistance to researchers in the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals are key elements of assuring high-quality research.Biostatistics Resource

The Clinical Trials Office (CTO) ensures proper Phase I and II study design, monitoring, and patient care follow-up in order to facilitate clinical cancer research at UC San Diego.
Go to the UCSD Transgenic Mouse Shared Resource Website

Flow cytometers and cell-sorting machines are now regarded as standard, essential equipment to provide a powerful means for collecting data on cell populations of statistically reliable size and, utilizing magnetic technology, sorting living cells that are present as minor subpopulations.
Go to the UCSD Transgenic Mouse Shared Resource Website

Performs gene expression profiling in which the activity of many thousands of genes are measured simultaneously. Also provides complete biochemical, hybridization, and scanning services as well as consultation in experimental design and data mining. Go to the UCSD Transgenic Mouse Shared Resource Website

The IVISR provides optical, CT, ultrasound, Hi Res planar gamma imaging, and PET of mice and rats, as well as high-resolution digital autoradiography and fluorescent imaging of thin whole body rodent sections. For more information, please contact David Vera, PhD by email at the link below or by phone at 858.822.2574.
Inquire About In Vivo Imaging

Provides high-resolution deconvolution microscopy, digital epi-fluorescence and brightfield microscopy, quantitative image analysis, cell microinjection and resulting biological analyses, and photo-production.
MICROSCOPY

An opportunity to pursue an interactive approach to the determination of intrinsic radiation sensitivity to ionizing radiation in vitro, as well as mathematical modeling of survival parameters.
RADIATION MEDICINE

The UCSD Transgenic Mouse Shared Resource in the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is a state-of-the-an facility that has an outstanding track record in the production of genetically altered mice. Transgenic mice carrying new or novel genes are created by microinjcction of DNA into the pronuclei of fertilized eggs. Knock-out mice lacking specific genes of interest are created by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells followed by injection into blastocysts to create chimeric mice. Knock-in mice with specific mutations or alterations are created using CRISPR mediated recombination. The shared resource also provides embryo rederivation, sperm and embryo freezing, ovary transplants, in-vitro fertilization, and embryo thawing.
Go to the UCSD Transgenic Mouse Shared Resource Website

The Gene Transfer, Targeting and Therapeutics Core (GT3, formerly called the Viral Vectors core,) in the Salk Institute Cancer Center provides design, consultation and production services for retrovirus (MMLV/MSCV), lentivirus (HIV/EIAV), adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenovirus (Ad5), rabies virus (g-deleted SAD B19) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) -based viral vector systems. The core offers stocks of DNA shuffled AAV libraries, which allow for selection of novel serotypes with unique transduction properties on cells of interest, as well as non-viral delivery technologies based on mini-intronic plasmid (MIP). In addition, GT3 offers vector titration services, vector purification services, Replication Competent Lentivirus (RCL) testing, and limited custom cloning and vector services. Several advanced instruments are available for use in the core on a charge-back basis, including a NanoSight system for sizing and counting viral particles, a GE AKTA system for protein purification, and an Eppendorf liquid handling system.
Gene Transfer, Targeting and Therapeutics Core (GT3) Website

The Salk Institute Transgenic Core (TG) in the Salk Institute Cancer Center is dedicated to providing access to cutting-edge technologies to create transgenic and knockout mouse models. Core services include microinjection of DNA constructs into single-cell stage embryos, microinjection of gene-targeted mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into blastocysts, in-vitro fertilization (lVF), cryopreservation and rederivation of mouse lines. The TG core has implemented new genome engineering technologies based on the CRlSPR-associated RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9, which enables generation of mice carrying mutations in multiple genes, endogenous reporters, conditional alleles or defined deletions. ln addition, the Core offers lentiviral injection of two-cell stage embryos, and injection of human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines into immunodeficient mice to form teratomas. They can provide G4l8-resistant mice for generating feeder cells for ES cell culture and inbred strains of mice.

Contact for Salk Institute Transgenic Core: Yelena Dayn
Salk Institute Transgenic Core Website

The role of the Mass Spectrometry Core is to provide access and services involving state-of-the-art instrumentation and techniques for analyzing targeted and complex mixtures of proteins and small molecules (metabolites). Within a cell, tissue or organism, it is the proteins and small molecules that are the building blocks, workhorses and functional molecules that carry out the instructions from the genome. In healthy cells and tissues, it is these proteins and metabolites that keep biological processes functioning properly. In disease states, proteomic and metabolomics studies can give new and meaningful insight into the mechanisms of what went wrong.

Contact for Salk Institute Transgenic Core: Yelena Dayn
Mass Spectrometry Core for Proteomics and Metabolomics

The Chemical Library Screening facility at Sanford Burnham Prebys, within the Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, includes the Assay Development facility, which supports the development and optimization of robust and sensitive high throughput-ready assays (384 or 1536 well) with a wide variety of readouts; the Chemical Libraries & High-Throughput Screening facility, which provides high throughput screening utilizing the core’s focused libraries or broad collections of compounds (>1,000,000 compounds total) and extensive robotics; the High Content Screening facility, which develops assays for screening with high-throughput microscopy and assists with all aspects of screening and analysis, including algorithm development; and Medicinal Chemistry, with broad experience and capabilities to support all aspects of drug discovery, including hit selection, initial SAR exploration and lead optimization.
Chemical Library Screening facility

The Functional Genomics Core in the Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Center specializes in target discovery and validation, by means of targeted or genome-wide genetic screening in cultured cells. The Core's tools include an arrayed genome-wide siRNA library, focused shRNA libraries, with most current analyses utilizing CRISPR-based reagents. CRISPR constructs include pooled libraries, as well as CRISPRi and CRISPRa constructs. The Core is currently expanding its collection of focused, arrayed CRISPR libraries. Screening services range from initial feasibility assessment experiments all the way through verification of identified targets. Core personnel develop both plate reader and image-based cellular assays, and develop and adapt them to HTS screening conditions in conjunction with the High Content Screening facility in SBP’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics.
Functional Genomics Core

The Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer Metabolism Core provides a hub within the Institute for analysis of metabolism using specialist instruments and methodologies, together with advice on planning experiments and analyzing data. All of the instruments and approaches are available on a fee-for-service basis to Cancer Center scientists, but also (as capacity permits) to outside users. Samples for most services can be shipped, but Seahorse analyzer users need to be local so they can bring live cells for analysis.
Mass Spectrometry Core for Proteomics and Metabolomics

The Bioinformatics Core Facility provides support for short- or long-term projects requiring expertise the analysis of biological datasets. Our services are all-encompassing and include the analysis of large-scale datasets (e.g., next-gen sequencing data, microarrays, etc.), the development of customized databases and reusable analysis pipelines, guidance on experimental design, support with technical sections of manuscripts and grants, and training on analysis software packages. All services are charged at our hourly rate.
Bioinformatics

Clinical research volunteers are crucial partners in the quest for knowledge that will improve the health of future generations. As a non-profit research organization, we rely on our entire community to help us gain a better understanding of the immune system by contributing to groundbreaking research.
Clinical Studies

Recent technological advances implemented in electron microscopes have allowed the visualization of biologically important molecules with unprecedented details. In order to bring those advances to applications for the benefit of humankind in the continuous fight against disease, La Jolla Institute decided to set up a state of the art electron cryomicroscopy facility for the benefit of local researchers. In this facility we can collect images of unstained specimens, either purified or in situ, and help with the necessary image processing to extract relevant information. The facility offers two state of the art transmission electron microscopes, a dual-beam electron microscope for the preparation of cellular lamellae, a fluorescence microscope to find the areas of interest in frozen cells, and ample sample preparation facilities.
Cryo-EM

The Department of Laboratory Animal Care is a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to improving human and animal life. Our successful partnership with our scientists promotes the highest standards of animal care and welfare, facilitating the advancement of knowledge in the biomedical research field.
The animal care program has been fully accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International) since 1994. The Department of Animal Care strives to maintain the highest quality of ethical, humane and appropriate animal care and is committed to continually improving the quality of services provided to research investigators for the purpose of improving the health of humans and animals.
DLAC (Dept of Animal Services)

The LJI Flow Cytometry Core Facility is one of the largest flow cytometry cores in the San Diego area. The core facility is a full service flow cytometry laboratory that provides investigators with state-of-the-art equipment along with the necessary expertise and services to support cutting-edge research. The core facility offers a wide range of routine and custom flow cytometry, mass cytometry, cell sorting services, data analysis, strategic planning for novel assays, user training as well as full scale research collaborations. More than fee-for-service providers, flow cytometry core staff members are personally invested in the success of experiments and consider themselves temporary extensions of individual labs. The flow cytometry facility has extensive experience in daily instrument calibration and maintenance, multicolor panel design, immunophenotyping, intracellular and intranuclear staining.
Flow Cytometry

The Histopathology Core offers tailored consulting to intramural and extramural investigators in the analysis of disease pathology. Analysis by board-certified comparative pathologists aids investigators in identifying and localizing manifestations of disease, including cancer and infections, in research tissue samples. Additionally, the core can aid in spatial biology planning and the design of inflammation panels, assays, and protocols for the microscopic examination of tissue samples. The core operates on a fee for use basis and is open to all potential users.
Histopathology

The Microscopy and Histology Core Facilities at La Jolla Institute were developed to help local scientists with their imaging needs in a static or dynamic (in vitro/in vivo) scenario by offering histology and microscopy services and providing support and training to interested researchers. Dedicated personnel can assist in all essential steps of an imaging experiment starting from experimental design, sample preparation through image acquisition and data analysis. The facility offers a range of light microscopes, related imaging systems and image analysis resources for assisted or independent use (upon training). The facility operates on a fee for use basis and is open to all potential users.
Microscopy & Histology

High-throughput sequencing is an extremely fast developing technology that has profoundly altered our understanding of biology, human diversity, and disease. Read more about our Instrumentation and Rates at our site.
Next Generation Sequencing