Laser Capture Microdissection Core Facility

The Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) Core Facility provides the members of the NIH community the opportunity to incorporate the benefits of laser capture microdissection (LCM) in their individual research projects. This robust and exciting new technology, which was developed here at NIH in 1996 and is now marketed by, MDS Inc (formally Arcturus Engineering), of Mississauga, Ontario, has become a universally accepted tool in institutions worldwide. The heterogeneous nature of tissue has proven to be the limiting factor in the amount of biological information that can be generated from tissue samples. LCM provides the researcher with a means to isolate pure population of cells from heterogeneous tissue specimens. These "captured" cells can then be used in a wide range of downstream assays such as LOH (loss of heterozygosity) studies, gene expression analysis at the mRNA level or in a wide range of proteomic assays such as 2D gel analysis, Western blotting, reverse phase protein array and SELDI protein profiling. Commercial kits for the isolation of RNA and DNA are available and adaptable to the micro samples obtained by LCM.

Information for Users :

Location:
Building 10 / Room B1B37
Bethesda Campus, National Institutes of Health

Equipment:
The LCM Core Facility has the following equipment available for users:

• Three complete Arcturus (now MDS Inc) PixCell II Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) Systems.
• Two of the PixCell Systems have mercury arc lamps ( Olympus) for fluorescence guided LCM
• Veritas Microdissection System (MDS inc): Laser Capture Microdissection (IR Laser) and Laser Cutting System (UV Laser) with florescence package.
• AutoPix Laser Capture Microdissection System (Arcturus now MDS): Fully Automated Laser Capture. Microdissection (IR)
• Staining Hood and H&E Stains
• Cryostat Microtome (on order from Leica)
• Eppendorf Centrifuge and Incubators for post LCM sample extraction

Services:
The staff of the facility provides the following services, by appointment

• Training on LCM equipment and pre and post LCM processing of samples
• Technical advice on tissue handling and processing
• Pathology assistance
• Technical assistance with the core facilities instruments

Instrument Sign up:
Once trained users will be added to an online calendar system where they can sign up and review the availability of the instruments.

Training and Technical Assistance:
Email us at NCI LCM Core

Policies:
When using the equipment:

1. Before using a particular equipment you must be trained or show competence.
2. Please sign up for the equipment using the online calendar.
3. If you have a problem with the equipment please contact the core staff immediately
4. Users must supply consumables LCM Caps, Slides etc.

Staff:

• Michael R. Emmert-Buck, MD, PhD, Application Development & Director of LCM Core Laboratory
• Jaime Rodriguez-Canales, M.D., F.E.B.P., Pathologist
• Jeffrey Hanson BS, Biologist and Biomedical Engineer

Last Updated 1/12/2009 3:43:14 PM