Faculty of Medicine

Core facilities

The following facilities and services are available to the College community. If you run or know of a facility that is not listed here, please contact James Robinson.

Bioinformatics Support Service

We offer dedicated hardware, software, biological data management and storage, consultancy, analyses, full participation in the bioinformatics components of grants (part and full posts), production of bespoke analysis pipelines, software, interfaces and databases, teaching and training.

Biological Imaging Centre

The Biological Imaging Centre (BIC) was established to develop and implement non-invasive imaging techniques, principally magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), to increase our understanding of gene function in health and disease in the whole functioning organism.

The BIC is equipped with two multinuclear MR systems (9.4T and 4.7T) and one miniature PET system (Quad-HIDAC) suitable for in vivo imaging in morphological phenotyping, cardiology, neurobiology, hepatology, developmental biology, toxicology and molecular biology. MR imaging can be used to obtain anatomical and pathophysiological information from living animals (rodents) and small biological samples (isolated organs and excised tissue). The MR systems also have the capability to carry out metabolic studies of most tissues by means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). PET imaging is a powerful technique that can be used to assess dynamic metabolic and pathophysiological processes non-invasively in living animals (rodents). The Quad-HIDAC system has the highest resolution available through PET in the world.

CISBIC mass spectrometry core facility for proteomics and glycomics

We provide Imperial College researchers access to MS instrumentation for Proteomics/Glycomics, as well as analysis and advice on the application of mass spectrometry for solving biopolymer structural problems.

Drug Discovery Centre

The Imperial Drug Discovery Centre is a multi-disciplinary team of scientists who bring a wealth of experience from the pharmaceutical industry to the College. This industrial experience is key to translating early research into drug discovery projects. Our laboratory at South Kensington is designed for assay development and small-scale screening, and houses the Imperial DDC compound collection as well as computational chemistry resource for drug design. The services we provide include:

  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Synthetic chemistry
  • Lead optimization
  • Pharmacology
  • Assay design
  • Real and virtual screening
  • Project management

The DDC uses this expertise in a range of ways including:

  • Advice and support for grant submissions and industry project progression
  • Preparation of tool compounds for target and pathway validation
  • Identification of chemical start points via virtual screening, diverse or focused screening activities
  • Chemo- and bioinformatics
  • Development of robust screening ready assays for outsourced HTS
  • Provision of links to specific drug development CROs to conduct activities such as DMPK, in vitro and in vivo validation and screening, formulation.

Electromagnetic Laboratory

The EM Lab is equipped for all high-frequency measurement needs. The facility includes a huge (4m x 3m x 2m) anechoic shielded chamber, calibrated for uninterrupted use between 10MHz and 110GHz, a 67GHz Agilent PNA with Cascade manual probe station and E-CAL automatic calibration for discrete SMA socketed use, an 8GHz Agilent oscilloscope and a Picosecond pulse generator, as well as a host of other miscellaneous instruments.

Electron Microscopy Centre

The EM Centre comprises a state-of-the-art EM infrastructure for molecular (single particle) and cellular microscopy under room- and low temperature conditions:

  • FEI Tecnai 12 (LaB6 electron source); CCD camera
  • Philips CM200 (FEG electron source); CCD camera
  • Philips CM300 (FEG electron source); Helium cooled-Polara Stage; CCD camera

Moreover, we have a Vitrobot to vitrify samples and several cryo transfer holders (Gatan) with and without high tilt capabilities. A High Pressure Freezing apparatus (EMPACT 2, Leica) and Ultramicrotomes (for ambient and low temperatures) are also available for the optimal preservation of cellular ultra structure and their serial sectioning.

Besides two sample preparation laboratories, the centre includes also a dark room for development of micrographs, scanning facilities to digitise images and a large parallel computer farm.

Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy (FILM)

FILM, the Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy, provides access to the newest equipment in light microscopy. Suited for absolute beginners to hardcore microscopists alike, we provide equipment and all training and assistance required for the whole range of light microscopy, from basic observations with transmitted light to multiphoton fluorescence in vivo microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging. We also keep moving with the latest developments in microscopy and try to implement them to make them easily accessible for life scientists. In addition to microscopy equipment, we also provide access to software and expertise in image data analysis, general microscopy education and a knowledge exchange and networking.

Flow Cytometry (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre)

We provide a service for the analysis and physical isolation of cells according to their phenotypic and functional properties by measuring the fluorescence emitted by individual cells labelled with fluorescent probes. A broad spectrum of fluorescent probes are available, including antibodies specific for cell surface or intracellular molecules, dyes to determine the cellular content of DNA or other bio-molecules, and indicators of biophysical properties such as membrane potential or intracellular second messengers.

Genomics Laboratory

The Genomics Laboratory provides state of the art facilities for high-throughput genomic research:

  • High throughout DNA sequencing (Illumina GAIIx and HiSeq2000)
  • Microarray
  • Conventional DNA sequencing (ABI 3730xl), genotyping and real time PCR
  • Bioinformatics Support

Microelectronics Test Laboratory

Comprehensively equipped facility for the development, test and measurement of biomedical circuits and systems.

Molecular Diagnostics Unit (MDU)

The Molecular Diagnostics Unit (MDU) is a spin-off from a department carrying out research on retroviruses and other infectious diseases, offering a specialist diagnostic service to NHS clinics. Testing services include tests for drug resistance in HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV), detection and quantification of human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV) and detection of organisms associated with non-specific urethritis, such as Mycoplasma genitalium. MDU is accredited to undertake diagnostic testing by Clinical Pathology Accreditation Ltd. (CPA).

We are happy to undertake work in support of research projects that require molecular methods involving infectious organisms. Specifically, we offer gene sequencing and PCR detection methods and we will undertake the development of methods for organisms which are not currently in our repertoire.

NMR Centre

We are equipped with Bruker Avance III 600 MHz and Bruker Avance II 800 MHz spectrometers and are particularly geared towards high-resolution NMR spectroscopy in the solution state, with particular expertise in Biomolecular NMR.

Real Time PCR

Real Time is now a routine technique used in the lab for relative quantitation of gene expression, transgene copy number, SNPs etc The facility provide a good value access to our shared equipment together with expertise to get you started. Dr Laurence Bugeon has a number of years of experience with this technology and will provide you with valuable advice which will help you getting high quality results and save you money.

Robert Steiner MR Unit

MRI scanners (2x 3T and 1.5T Philips Achieva systems) and associated infrastructure for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy of human subjects.

SOLiD Sequencing Facility

The IoSSB SOLiD Sequencing Facility is a facility for ultra high throughput sequencing based on the SOLiD 3 sequencing platform from Life Technologies.

Transgenics

Transgenesis is a complex and fast growing technology. Having been involved in transgenesis and knock out technology for the past 9 years, my aim is to provide expertise for your models, from the gene to experimental analysis.

Issues that I can help you with:

  • Experimental design for Transgenesis
  • How to clone cDNA or genomic DNA
  • Homologous recombination or random integration
  • Choosing ES cells or pronuclear injection
  • What promoter to drive expression of transgene
  • Constitutive or inducible expression
  • The Cre-Lox system may be suitable
  • Cell-type-specific or ubiquitous
  • How to backcross, genotype and maintain a colony
  • A database of already available transgenic and KO mice - the “mouse locator”
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