Microarray Shared Resources

Overview

The Microarray Shared Resource of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University (CCCWFU) is directed by Lance D. Miller, PhD, associate professor, Department of Cancer Biology and employs a technician (microarray specialist Ms. Lou Craddock) and bioinformatician (Dr. Jeff Chou).

The Microarray Shared Resource offers three services:

RNA expression profiling
RNA bioanalysis
Expressions array analysis

Mission

The mission of the CCCWFU Microarray Shared Resource is to provide a cutting-edge and competitive environment for cancer genomics research by providing our faculty with comprehensive and cost-effective microarray technologies and informatics solutions.

The Microarray Shared Resource has a modern infrastructure that includes:

GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G multi-color scanner
Three GeneChip 450 Fluidics Stations
Two GeneChip Hybridization Ovens
Four high-speed computer workstations for data analysis workflows
GeneAtlas scanner/fluidics/hybridization oven
Agilent 2100 bioanlyzer

Computational tools for data processing and low-level array analysis are provided by the Affymetrix GeneChip Command Console Software (AGCC; released September 2008), which includes basic solutions for analysis of expression, genotype and copy-number data, registration of samples and arrays, management of multi-chip datasets, and integrated control of fluidics and scanning instrumentation.

For advanced microarray analysis support, the Microarray Shared Resource employs a level IV bioinformatician with microarray expertise who works closely with the facility director to provide consultation and support to shared resource users in methods of experimental design, data processing and normalization, data visualization and mining, and statistical analyses of differential expression.