Major Equipment

Illumina NextSeq 2000 System, purchased with a trade-in of our previous Illumina HiSeq 4000 system which was acquired with the funds of a grant from the Ardmore Institute of Health and the gift from Dr. Charles A. Sims, provides the highest data quality, cost-effective, and efficient sequencing for large-scale studies across multiple applications. The NextSeq NextSeq 2000 System uses patterned flow cells like those that power the NovaSeq™ 6000 System. The result is a highly flexible, robust, and scalable benchtop system that offers the highest cluster density flow cell of any on-market NGS system to date, driving down the cost per gigabase (Gb) of the sequencing run. Furthermore, the NextSeq 2000 System can allow us to investigate the multiple forms of genomic and epigenetic regulations such as single-cell Multiomics (scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq), spatial genomics, mRNA-seq/miRNA-Seq, ATAC-seq, whole genome DNA methylation, Reduced Representation of Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS), all at single base resolution.

Illumina NextSeq 550 System, funded by a NIH grant (PI, Wang), is an integrated system for automated generation of DNA clonal clusters by bridge amplification, sequencing, and primary data analysis. It is the first NGS system enabled for array scanning. By leveraging microarray scanning on the NextSeq 550, it is a powerful, complementary technology for further exploration or confirmation of copy number variants detected through sequencing. The system includes embedded touch screen monitor and on-instrument computer, providing the flexible power and simplicity. It is a wonderful, fast and also a powerful NGS sequencer.

The MiSeqDx system advances our research further by being the first and only FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic (IVD) next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to target specific genetic variants and detect indels in homopolymeric regions with reliability and ease. The system shortens the path to clinical diagnosis by replacing multiple PCR steps increasing efficiency and providing more definitive results within less than 2 days. By reducing hands-on efforts, it minimizes human error, offers a small footprint, and eliminates the need for time-consuming additional testing with a simple three-step assay workflow.

The Chromium Single Cell Controller system is a compact, sleek RNA sequencer for analyzing cell characterization and gene expression by profiling hundreds to millions of cells through automating the equivalency of 100,000s to 1,000,000 of pipetting steps for highly parallel sample partitioning and molecular barcoding. With a complete yet simplified workflow from cell suspension through sequencing-ready cDNA in less than a day, the Chromium Single Cell Controller ensures the cell capture efficiency up to 65%. This system is compatible with Illumina NextSeq2000/NextSeq 550/MiSeqDX sequencers, which ensures a seamless transition from system to system.

The Chromium X Series lets you access single cell analysis at any stage. From Chromium iX, offering cost-effective, lower throughput single cell analysis, upgradable to the high-throughput full-range Chromium X, which makes single cell analysis a perfect fit. Chromium X makes large-scale studies more affordable and practical with high-throughput single cell gene expression and immune profiling solutions for up to millions single cells in a run.

The Visium CytAssist is a compact instrument designed to simplify the Visium workflow by facilitating the transfer of transcriptomic probes from standard glass slides to Visium slides, enabling whole transcriptomic spatial profiling insights across the entire tissue section, and expanded compatibility with FFPE and/or FF samples.

The Fluidigm C1™ Single-Cell AutoPrep System is a new approach to single-cell gene expression. The system takes an entirely new approach, based on innovative microfluidic technology, to enables us to rapidly and reliably isolate, process and profile individual cells for genomic analysis such as single-cell RNA-Seq transcriptome measurement. For the first time, one can extract, reverse transcribe, pre-amplify and ultimately detect and analyze cell activity using just one technology, reducing the variability caused by multi-platform technical errors. The C1 Single-Cell AutoPrep System enables us to study cell differentiation, measure individual cell responses to specific stimuli, verify critical disease biomarkers, validate RNAi knockdown, and conduct candidate drug screens. With an optimized protocol, pre-formulated reagent kit, and disposable arrays, it can achieve single-cell accuracy with "load and go" productivity.

The Applied Biosystems® QuantStudio™ 7 Flex Real-Time PCR System advances our research further by enabling a broad range of real-time PCR-based applications through its multiplexing capabilities and interchangeable block formats. With a simplified workflow, intuitive software, automation capabilities, and touch-screen interface, the QuantStudio™ 7 Flex system offers exceptional reproducibility with minimal well-to-well and instrument-to-instrument variation. The intelligent design of the QuantStudio™ platform combined with Applied Biosystems® instrument reliability and accuracy. The system is compatible with over 8 million TaqMan® assays for gene expression, genetic variation, gene regulation, or protein expression experiments.

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The Qubit® 4.0 Fluorometer is the next generation of the popular benchtop fluorometer that accurately measures DNA, RNA, and protein using the highly sensitive Qubit® quantitation assays. The concentration of the target molecule in the sample is reported by a fluorescent dye that emits a signal only when bound to the target, which minimizes the effects of contaminants—including degraded DNA or RNA—on the result.

The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer system can provide sizing, quantitation and quality control of DNA, RNA, DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq sequencing libraries, with high quality digital data.

The Agilent 2200 TapeStation system automates RNA and DNA sample QC, including sample loading, separation, and imaging. It is a tape-based platform for simpler, faster and more reliable electrophoresis for QC of DNA, RNA, DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq libraries.

The S220 Focused-ultrasonicator is a versatile, high power system engineered for pre-analytical sample processing. The versatility of the S220 Focused-ultrasonicator makes it possible to bring the advantages of AFA to numerous biological and chemical applications including, DNA, RNA, and chromatin shearing, tissue homogenization, cell lysis, compound dissolution, and particle micronization.  It is an accurate ultrasonicator system for shearing the DNA and RNA to the desired and targeted sizes for DNA-Seq and RNA-Seq library constructions.

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The PEQLab Minilys utilizes the same technology as the Precellys homogenizer range, which disrupts samples with a 3D, figure-8 motion.  It efficiently disrupts samples in minutes and provides high yields and high quality of nucleic acids and proteins without sample vs. sample cross-contamination.