Cancer Genomics Shared Resource

Cancer Genomics Shared Resource Summary Over the past decade, genomic investigations have continued to play an increasing role in cancer-related clinical and research activities. The mission of the Cancer Genomics Shared Resource (CGSR) is to provide, at affordable rates, access to a full range of genomic tools along with expert consultation. It supports this mission through 3 Specific Aims: 1) Facilitate the integration of genomic technologies in studies performed by Masonic Cancer Center (MCC) PIs; 2) Guide and educate researchers on technology selection; and 3) Provide turnkey project execution. Current services include cytogenomics, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing, single- cell genomics, spatialomics, epigenomics, and gene expression; optical gene mapping is a planned future service that will replace microarrays. All services are tailored to the needs of a PI’s project. CGSR is one of the only labs nationwide that performs diverse cytogenomic analyses on non-human cell lines, resulting in these services being requested by members of other cancer centers. CGSR is led by Betsy Hirsch, PhD (unaligned), and Kenny Beckman, PhD (Genetic Mechanisms Program). Dr. Hirsch has >30 years’ experience in cytogenomics and has led the cytogenomics services of CGSR since its inception. Dr. Beckman has 22 years of experience in high-throughput assays and has led the University of Minnesota Genomics Center since 2009. The Cytogenomics portion of the CGSR is an Internal Service Organization (ISO) administered and overseen by MCC, with costs recovered through chargebacks. All user fees are determined by MCC based on direct costs of reagents, equipment (depreciated purchase price and maintenance plans), and labor. The UMGC is also an ISO, with costs recovered through chargebacks. The UMGC receives an instrument subsidy to help keep instrumentation up to date. Since FY20, MCC has subsidized spatialomics and single-cell genomics projects conducted by UMGC for MCC members. In fiscal year 2022, 22 researchers used CGSR services, of whom 18 were MCC members.