Cell Science Core听
- About Us
- Our Services
Supporting Basic & Translational Research
The Cell Science Core at 91大神 Children鈥檚 is a state-of-the-art facility that helps drive research discoveries in children鈥檚 medicine. Since 2004, our team has provided researchers with critical scientific tools and knowledge to study cells, the building blocks of life, to understand how diseases develop and respond to treatment.
Our core specializes in several key technologies to help advance pediatric research. We use advanced flow cytometry to analyze thousands of individual cells in seconds. We can also sort and isolate specific types of cells, allowing scientists to study precisely how different cell types contribute to both illness and healing.
We recently expanded our capabilities to include Luminex testing, which allows us to measure important proteins that affect inflammation and immune responses in children. We also use sophisticated equipment like the Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer to study how cells produce and use energy. This is important for understanding many conditions, from childhood cancer to rare genetic disorders.
Our work supports a wide range of pediatric research, from developing new treatments for childhood leukemia to understanding autoimmune disorders like Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. We provide researchers with access to advanced technology and expertise to accelerate new and better treatments for kids.听
Our Leadership
Sonali Barwe, PhD
Director, Cell Science Core
Part of Our Core Research Infrastructure
Core labs and services at 91大神 provide essential capabilities that advance pediatric research. Explore additional resources available to investigators across the system.
Biobank & Molecular Analysis Program
DELAWARE VALLEY & FLORIDA
Our CAP-accredited biorepository has 15,000+ pediatric specimens, offering researchers collection, processing, compliance, storage, and analysis services.
Biomedical Research Informatics Center
DELAWARE VALLEY & FLORIDA
We consult, train, and provide computational resources for researchers, offering experimental design, data mining, analysis, and software application development.
Histochemistry & Tissue Processing Core
DELAWARE VALLEY
Our core lab provides researchers with detailed tissue analysis and processing services that help advance the understanding and treatment of childhood diseases.
Core Services & Infrastructure
The Cell Science Core is a vital resource for pediatric researchers. Our experts support investigators with state-of-the-art instrumentation, specialized technical expertise, and comprehensive project consultation from experimental design through data analysis.
We maintain rigorous quality standards and offer both walk-up instrument access to trained users and full-service options. Our BSL-2 (Biosafety Level 2) tissue culture facility in Wilmington, Del. houses cutting-edge technology for flow cytometry, cell sorting, protein analysis, and cellular metabolism studies.
Research Applications
Our core supports a variety of translational research in pediatric medicine. Examples include:
Our flow cytometry capabilities combine advanced fluidics and light systems to analyze thousands of cells per second. With three to four lasers for excitation and up to 25 emission filters, researchers can customize their experiments using virtually any antibody-fluorochrome combination.
We support a wide range of applications, including cell activation studies, protein expression analysis, transfection efficiency measurement, particle internalization studies, cell death/proliferation assessment and immunophenotyping.
Available platforms include:
- Novocyte 3000 (three lasers, 13 colors)听
- Quanteon (four lasers, 25 colors)
Data Analysis
NovoExpress Software is available for easy-to-use data analysis, generating publication-quality images without need for third-party analysis software.
Our Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) service enables researchers to isolate specific cell populations with high precision. This staff-operated service allows researchers to focus on their experimental design while our experts handle the technical aspects of cell sorting.
The FACS Aria III Cell Sorter features:
- Three lasers with 11 fluorescence colors
- Four-way sorting capability
- Multiple collection format options
- Sterile sorting for continued cell culture
- Pre- and post-sort consultation
Our Luminex technology revolutionizes protein analysis by enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple targets in a single sample. This powerful platform analyzes various soluble targets including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors across different sample types.
Equipment and capabilities include:
- Luminex xMAP Intelliflex System
- Analysis of serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants and cell lysates
- Complementary to flow cytometry analysis
- Cost and sample-efficient multiplexing
The Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer provides real-time insights into cellular metabolism, offering critical data about cellular dysfunction, mitochondrial health, toxicity, and glycolysis. This technology measures both oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate to provide a comprehensive view of cellular metabolic activity.
Our facility houses a comprehensive suite of supporting instruments to enable a wide range of research applications:
Imaging Systems
- Zeiss Observer 3 fluorescent microscope
- Licor Odyssey Western Blot & Gel Imager
- Licor C-Digit Western Blot Imager
- ProteinSimple FluoroChemE Imager
Analysis Equipment
- Victor Nivo 5F Multimode Plate Reader
- NanoDrop One Spectrophotometer
- BSL-2 tissue culture facility
Our experienced team provides comprehensive support throughout your research project, including:
- Project consultations and experimental design.
- Protocol optimization.
- Data analysis assistance.
- Instrument training.
- Ongoing technical support.
How to Work With Us
The Cell Science Core Lab uses iLab Solutions for all service requests. To get started:
- Current iLab users:听听.
- New users: .
For more information, please email the lab directly.