DNA Microarray Shared Resource

Overview

Leadership:

Holly Dressman, PhD
919-668-1583
dress002@mc.duke.edu

Joseph Nevins, PhD
919-684-2746
j.nevins@duke.edu

Location: 2208B CIEMAS

Website: http://microarray.genome.duke.edu/

The DNA Microarray Facility provides access to various forms of technology for gene expression analysis, particularly DNA microarray technologies, to members of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. This includes Affymetrix microarrays as well as printed DNA microarrays produced in the facility. Importantly, the facility also provides service for microarray analysis, either with Affymetrix arrays or printed oligonucleotide arrays. As a result of the volume of use, the facility has negotiated an agreement with Affymetrix that now provides a very substantial discount in cost of microarrays and services, to the benefit of Cancer Center members. Beyond the microarray services, the facility also provides Cancer Center members access to an ABI 7900 RT-PCR instrument for validation of gene expression results as well as alternative methods of expression assay, and access to an Axon Genepix Scanner for those wanting to scan their own arrays.  In addition, the facility provides substantial support for data analysis and management of microarray datasets.  These services include initial consultation in experimental design, assessment of RNA quality, generation of probes, hybridization to arrays, scanning of arrays, data analysis, and data management and storage. The Microarray Core Facility developed and uses a custom LIMS that integrates every point of the data production process, starting with sample submissions from researchers to laboratory operations, and then to final billing and postings. With the LIMS tools and the repository features of the Express data repository, data of different types can be grouped and managed by projects, and because of the simplicity of the web-based interfaces that have been developed, researchers can execute their own analysis and data management in a simplified fashion. The impact of the facility on research in the Cancer Center has been substantial, as evidenced by the large number of publications as well as the translation of these services into clinical practice in the form of multiple investigator-initiated clinical trials making use of DNA microarray analysis to guide clinical decisions.