Single Cell Genomics Core

Research Core: Single-Cell Genomics (SCG) Core ABSTRACT High-throughput genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and immune profiling technologies now provide a wealth of data that can be mined to interrogate basic biological process, changes in cellular or organismal populations, and the molecular bases of disease—at levels ranging from the whole organism to single cells. The generation and analysis of such data is now a pillar of research approaches and problems in the life sciences. The Center for Quantitative Biology (CQB) has established a vibrant research program, uniting “wet bench” researchers focused on pressing problems in human heath, with computational scientists providing rigorous analysis, methods development, and insight to these data. Single-Cell Genomics (SCG) and spatial transcriptomics have become essential tools to understand diseases involving complex biological systems including cancer, neurodegenerative, and immune/autoimmune diseases. Phase 1 of this COBRE established the SCG Core, a centralized resource within the CQB providing access to cutting-edge instrumentation and expertise in single- cell and spatial -omics technologies to project leaders and researchers across the Dartmouth research community and regional IDeA institutions. The SCG Core has had a substantial impact on science conducted by CQB project leads and other Dartmouth investigators, processing over 600 samples, publishing 18 manuscripts and helping to secure 5 grants totaling more than $11 million. Working closely with COBRE leadership and its users, the SCG Core has implemented end-to-end workflow support for sample collection, tissue processing and quality control within a digital sample tracking framework (Aim 1), and performs cell isolation, library preparation, and sequencing for a comprehensive suite of single-cell workflows (Aim 2). In Phase 2, the SCG Core will build upon current efforts to provide spatial transcriptomics services through close integrations with histology, imaging, and pathology resources at Dartmouth, building the infrastructure required for translational science (Aim 3). Through collaboration with the Genomic Data Science Core (GDSC), users will have access to analysis workflows complementary to the offerings provided by the SCG Core, ensuring the large amounts of complex data generated by these methods can be readily interpreted to gain biological insight and inform subsequent experiments in a timely manner. As leaders in the field of single-cell genomics, members of the SCG Core will also serve as key opinion leaders for industry and academic partners and engage with the scientific community through regional and national meetings. As part of a network of experts in the field, the SCG Core will stay abreast of the latest technologies and learn from the experience of others to implement high-quality services for its users.