Biomarkers

Regina Santella, Ph.D., Director
Irina Gurvich, M.S., Manager

The Biomarkers Shared Resource provides a centralized, efficient and cost-effective resource for receiving, handling and storing human samples that are collected as part of research studies in molecular epidemiology and other types of cancer-related research. It is a joint resource of the HICCC and Columbia’s NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan.

Services provided include:

• Preparation of kits for biospecimen collection
• Processing and storage of blood components, including cells and plasma
• Storage of other body fluids, including urine, sputum, and oral cells
• Isolation of DNA and quality control
• Maintenance of a sample inventory
• High- to medium-throughput custom genotyping of human DNA samples for cancer-related genetic epidemiology studies

Consultation is provided on all aspects of sample collection and processing for specific studies, including the types of tubes needed for sample collection, shipment methods, separation of specific fractions and  number of aliquots. The samples processed and/or stored include blood, urine, oral cells, sputum and microscope slides of smeared cells or paraffin sections. Coded samples are received by the facility and processed into appropriate fractions (e.g., plasma, mononuclear cells, granulocytes, total white blood cells and red blood cells) and frozen in multiple aliquots in more than one freezer whenever possible.

Additional services include DNA isolation from buccal and white blood cells, whole genome amplification of limited DNA samples, and high-throughput genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes. Samples from over 23,000 subjects participating in 42 different studies are currently stored in the Biomarkers Laboratory.