Immune Modeling, Analysis and Diagnostics

The IMADSR offers comprehensive immune monitoring services for clinical and translational studies. Our services support research efforts to characterize the immune system in disease settings, including autoimmunity and cancer.

We perform advanced bioinformatics, high-parameter flow cytometry, microbiome sequencing, scRNA-seq analysis and spatial sequencing. We also offer consultation on:

• Experimental design and sample collection
• Innovative approaches to evaluate immune responses in clinical studies
• Optimal project-specific immunologic assessment

Our laboratory is certified by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). We provide cancer investigators access to IMADSR’s state-of-the-art facility within the Institute for Regenerative Cures in Sacramento.

Features of our lab include:

• Automated assays to improve reproducibility
• Cryostorage systems for biobanking specimens
• Fully equipped tissue culture room with laminar hoods, tissue culture incubators, two Eppendorf centrifuges, microscope and water bath
• High-parameter, fully automated flow cytometer
• Infrastructure for sample collection, processing and storage with dedicated -20°C and -80°C freezers and liquid nitrogen storage
• Patient specimen processing and storage with electronic sample management and tracking systems

Services

Basic services

The IMADSR supports cancer studies with a wide range of services and capabilities. Our basic services include: 

• Gene expression profiling (Illumina-based whole transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR arrays, etc.)
• Immune cell profiling using flow cytometry, such as intracellular cytokine detection and cell surface phenotyping
• Immune cellular assays, including CFSE dilution, antigen-specific and non-specific responses and cytokine production
• Multiplex analyte detection (Luminex-based multiplex assays)

Advanced and Specialized Services

Beyond our standard services and consultations, we also offer:

• Diagnostic tests: Our CLIA-certified laboratory runs diagnostic tests including TCR and BCR rearrangement studies.
• Single-cell sequencing: We perform state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing services including CITE-Seq, REAP-Seq, scTCR/BCR-seq and targeted scRNA-Seq. Our team has expertise in isolating cells from various sources, such as the skin, tumor or intestines. We perform all analyses in-house.
• Specimen banking: We provide patient specimen processing and storage using electronic sample management and tracking systems. This includes sample acquisition, isolation, storage and distribution according to verified and validated standard SOPs. This ensures consistent processes for all research activities from sample to sample, investigator to investigator and study to study. The IMADSR has established processing protocols for peripheral blood samples, as well as samples using skin, tumors, saliva and urine.