A key goal of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is to provide access to technologies, services and scientific consultation that facilitate interaction and enhance scientific productivity. The shared resources highlighted below provide stability, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and quality control that would be difficult to achieve otherwise. The Masonic Cancer Center's designation by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive center includes support for many of these resources. Investigators with peer-reviewed, funded projects are the primary beneficiaries of all shared resources; many of the resources also are available to other researchers outside of the University community.

Analytical Biochemistry

Director: Stephen Hecht, Ph.D.
612-624-7604, hecht002@umn.edu

Contact: Steve Carmella
612-626-5235, carme001@umn.edu

The Analytical Biochemistry shared resource provides state of the art chemistry services featuring mass spectrometry, chromatography, and analytical biochemistry. It serves as a center of expertise for a full range of chemical and biochemical services in support of the peer-reviewed research of investigators.

Biostatistics and Informatics

Director: Chap T. Le, Ph.D.
Professor of Biostatistics
Office: A441 Mayo
612-624-9963, chap@umn.edu

Co-Director: Donald Connelly, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Health Computer Science
Office: 793 Mayo
612-624-4689, don@umn.edu

The Biostatistics and Informatics shared resource is an independent, stand-alone shared resource of the Masonic Cancer Center; it may draw faculty support from the Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, if and when needed, but it is operating within the Masonic Cancer Center, independent of the Division of Biostatistics. All members, research programs, and other shared resources of the Masonic Cancer Center will be supported by the Biostatistics and Informatics shared resource.

Clinical Trials Office

Director: Scott Baker, M.D.,
612-625-4952, baker084@umn.edu

Contact: Charlene Jue
612-624-1959, juexx002@umn.edu

The Masonic Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office (CTO) provides the infrastructure necessary to assist investigators in performing high quality clinical research, insure the validity and integrity of data and fulfill all NCI and regulatory requirements. This infrastructure includes state of the art information systems and database facilities, expertise in the development and management of clinical trials as well as development of IND/IDE applications and monitoring plans. It provides a centralized location for all cancer protocols and associated correspondences with regulatory agencies including the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board (IRB), NIH and U.S. FDA, and UMCC investigator IND/IDE files.

Comparative Pathology

Director: Cathy Carlson, D.V.M, Ph.D.
612-625-7717, carls099@umn.edu

Contact: Mesfin Negia
612-624-2242, cchc@umn.edu

The Comparative Pathology shared resource provides full pathology support for Masonic Cancer Center members who use laboratory animals in their research. This includes generation of histological sections from frozen and fomalin fixed animal tissues, detection of common cell antigens by immunohistochemistry, and development of new immunohistochemical protocols. The resource also provides lesion analysis, interpretation, and imaging services by board-certified veterinary pathologists.

Cytogenetics

Director: Betsy Hirsch, Ph.D.
612-273-4952, hirsc003@umn.edu

Contact: LeAnn Oseth
612-626-3302, oseth003@umn.edu

The Cytogenetics shared resource provides a full range of conventional cytogenetic and state of the art molecular-cytogenetic services to investigators, as well as consultative assistance in experimental design and data interpretation. Services offered, individually or in combination, include human and mouse G-band karyotypic analyses, multicolor flourescence spectral karyotyping, chromosomal mapping of DNA sequences using in-house generated fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes, and single or multi-probe metaphase and interphase FISH studies. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is currently being developed.

Flow Cytometry

Director: Tucker LeBien, Ph.D.
612-626-1422, lebie001@umn.edu

Contact: Paul Champoux
625-7165, champ004@umn.edu

The Flow Cytometry facility provides training, technical expertise, instrumentation, and software for flow cytometric analyses. The FACSCalibur side of the core is a user-operated facility. Trained users prepare their own samples in advance and run them on one of the three FACSCaliburs. The FACSVantage side is operator-assisted.

FV500 Confocal Microscopy

Director: Denis Clohisy, M.D.
612-626-9934

Contact: Margaret Ramnaraine
612-626-3672, ramna001@umn.edu

The FV500 Confocal Microscopy facility provides training, instrumentation, and software for confocal microscopy. The FV500 is a user-operated facility providing 24-hour access to a state-of-the-art instrument. Trained users prepare their own samples in advance, and can acquire images on a dedicated automated microscope or analyze data on a separate workstation. This facility is available only to Masonic Cancer Center members and their staff.

Health Survey Research Center

Director: Eileen Harwood, Ph.D.
612-626-1824, harwo002@umn.edu

Contact: Hannah Colón, M.P.H.
612-625-7896, colon019@umn.edu

The Health Survey Research Center collects and manages research data for population-based research. Services include sample selection; survey design; pre-testing; forms layout; mail surveys; telephone surveys; Internet surveys; tracking study subjects lost to follow up; data entry (key and verify); and data base design and management.

Laboratory Services

Director, Laboratory Services: Sabine Fritz
612-624-7151, fritz017@umn.edu

The Laboratory Services Shared Resource is responsible for all aspects of laboratory maintenance, safety and security in the Masonic Cancer Center Research Building.

Mouse Genetics Laboratory

Director: David Largaespada, Ph.D.
612-626-4979, larga002@umn.edu

Contact: Sandi Wagner
612-626-8525, hornx001@umn.edu

The Mouse Genetics Laboratory provides a comprehensive range of mouse embryo manipulation services. The facility offers a micro-injection laboratory, tissue culture, and administration capabilities in conjunction with dedicated animal housing space.

Tissue Procurement Facility

Director: Amy Skubitz, Ph.D.
612-625-5920, skubi002@umn.edu

Medical Director: Stephen Schmechel, M.D., Ph.D.
612-273-5980, schme004@umn.edu

Administrative Lead: Mary Sumpmann, R.N., M.S.
612) 624-8484, sumpm001@umn.edu

Contact: Sarah Bowell
273-6652, bowel001@umn.edu

The Tissue Procurement Facility prospectively obtains surgically resected tissue for research while safeguarding all aspects of patient care. Tissues are available fresh, frozen in liquid nitrogen, embedded in the cryopreservative O.C.T., or fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded.

Translational Cell Therapy

Director: Jeffrey Miller, M.D.
612-625-7409, mille011@umn.edu

Contact: Sue Fautsch
612-625-6165, fauts001@umn.edu

The Translational Cell Therapy shared resource serves as a resource for all members of the Masonic Cancer Center interested in basic and pre-clinical research involving human cells, developmental therapies and large-scale production of biologic products.