Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your questions, categorized by the Biobank and Research Pathology Resource's four service areas.
Please visit csmc.corefacilities.org/ to set up an iLabs account. If you have any questions, please send an email to groupbiobank@cshs.org. Click here for iLab training.
Yes. Our research pathologist can carry out cohort searches and retrieve tissues based on your request.
Yes. Our research pathologist was trained by UC Davis and Jackson Laboratory for rodent biopathology.
We use Oncore to track specimen locations. You can email groupbiobank@cshs.org to request that your inventory and specimen locations be provided.
Biospecimen requests received by the Biobank for banked biospecimens will be evaluated by the Specimen Utilization Committee (SUC). The SUC will determine if the request will be fulfilled, denied or deferred. This ensures that (1) biospecimen requests are being evaluated primarily based on scientific merit, and (2) biobanked specimens that are disbursed will NOT impact already planned research. This is an independent and impartial review carried out by Cedars-Sinai faculty at the request of the BTRC.
At least 24 hours (biopsies) to 48 hours before transferring them to 70% EtOH.
We offer routine special staining, including Acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) and Masson's Trichrome (MTC). Contact us for your particular special stain to see how we can help.
Yes, we have a dedicated research pathologist on site to review and interpret slide results if requested.
Our primary instrument is the Ventana Discovery Ultra. We also have a Biocare Intellipath for our more simple IHC projects.
Yes! We have the capability to develop a panel for almost any set of 5 or less stable antibodies. We have 5 distinct fluorophores and chromogens that can be used. Email us at groupbiobank@cshs.org for more information and see if your antibodies would be good candidates for multiplexing.
We have a knowledgeable supervising scientist available to assist in choosing the antibody that is most suitable. Email us at groupbiobank@cshs.org to see how we can help.
If a TMA meets your project's needs, we can provide recuts and stains to your specifications.
New TMA Construction: We can also construct new TMA block(s) based on your requirements. Email our research pathologist, Dr. Kent Yuan, at xiaopu.yuan@cshs.org for more details.
We understand the value of your specimens and want to handle them as carefully as you would! Our experienced research pathologist and technologists will carefully gross the specimens to make sure the specimens are numbered correctly, have the right embedding orientation, were properly processed, etc.
- Complete an iLab request; remember to include specimen number and embedding instruction.
- Label the container with the iLab number.
- Print the iLab request and bring it with you when you come to drop off your specimens.
- Label the cassettes with a chemical resistant marker or a No. 2 pencil so they are legible through tissue processing.
Once you've received approval from the IRB to use FFPE tissue from the Pathology Archive, we will search target cases, review slides and prepare desired samples for you from the appropriate FFPE blocks.
Email groupbiobank@cshs.org for training/information or request training for a specific instrument in iLab.
Yes, assisted use by Core personnel is available for an additional fee.
Yes, you will need to complete the Cedars-Sinai All Hazards Lab Safety course and provide groupbiobank@cshs.org with your certificate, badge number, job title and department.
You can use any fluorescent dye that can be excited by 405nm, 440nm, or between 470 to 670nm wavelength. This includes all fluorescent proteins and all commonly used dyes. Dyes that need excitation in the UV range (shorter than 405nm) such as Fura-2 or Indo 1 cannot be used.
For optimal results we recommend Prolong Diamond or Prolong Glass. Both are hard set mounting solutions that optimally protect your sample from deterioration. Prolong Diamond is the preferred mounting solution for the Leica confocal, especially thick sections. Prolong Glass can be used with the Leica as well and yields optimal results on all other microscope systems.
The preferred formats are the chambered cover slips from Nunc (Thermo Fisher) or IBID. Both are designed for optimal image quality. Glass bottom cover slips and well plates can be used as well. Alternatively, we can mount 25mm round coverslips in an Attofluor chamber (Thermo Fisher). Plastic dishes and well plates can be used with wide field microscopes but not for confocal imaging.
The Leica confocal can image samples up to 250um thick, the Zeiss up to 60um. Thick samples require a modified staining procedure. We can supply the protocol upon request.
You can send an Outlook invite to schedule a training session with Dr. Kolja Wawrowsky at kolja.wawrowsky@cshs.org. Please reserve the microscope on the iLab calendaring system to make sure the instrument is available for training. If you need help making a reservation on iLab please email Dr. Michael Doche at michael.doche@cshs.org
We can analyze H&E, DAB, and fluorescent stained samples.
We can perform global and cell specific measurements. Global measurements are used to compare the intensity of staining (fluorescence or dye) in regions of interest across different samples. Cytometry approaches are used to identify cells and measure staining on a per cell basis. Cytometry can be used to count cellular features such as vesicles, nuclear speckles, etc. We can also measure translocation of proteins, e.g. from the cytoplasm to the nucleus.
Have Questions or Need Help?
Contact us if you have questions or would like to learn more about the Biobank and Research Pathology Resource at Cedars-Sinai.
Spielberg, Room 110
8723 W. Alden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048