One of HSCI's platforms for research funding is the establishment of core facilities. The purpose of funding these cores is to accelerate stem cell research within the Harvard community by providing resources and services that are beyond the means of most individual labs. Access to HSCI core facilities is open to all HSCI members, and we expect that these cores will foster a culture of interaction and collaboration that will stimulate new approaches to the field.
HSCI iPS Core Facility
In July 2008, the HSCI iPS Core Facility was created to accelerate research in the stem cell field by facilitating the derivation and distribution of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines. Disease-specific iPS cell lines provide us with an opportunity to study the mechanisms of disease and ultimately to develop new treatments. The iPS Core now has a fee-for-service business model to provide investigators with customized iPS derivation and genome editing based on the latest cutting-edge stem cell technologies.
HSCI Center for Stem Cell Bioinformatics (CSCB)
The CSCB was created to address the need to manage high-throughput sequencing data. The Center consists of the Harvard Chan Bioinformatics Core, which offers training and consulting services, and the Stem Cell Commons, a collaborative data repository and analysis platform.
Center for Human Cell Therapy (CHCT)/TransLab
Located at Boston Children's Hospital, the CHCT/TransLab is a scientific and technical platform dedicated to supporting clinical research, and provides resources to all Harvard Medical School faculty to facilitate bench-to-bedside development of cellular therapies for the treatment of damaged or diseased tissues. The TransLab's scope of services includes cellular assays, immunophenotyping, RNA and DNA-based molecular assays, immunoassays, cell isolation and culture, and process and product development for FDA-compliant cell-based therapies.