The UTHealth Houston Cancer Genomics Center (CGC), a nonprofit core, was established in 2019 and funded by a CPRIT grant (RP180734). The CGC’s mission is to bring the newest next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to the research community and to help facilitate cutting-edge cancer research in the Texas Medical Center and other areas of Texas. The CGC offers the bulk DNA sequencings, the bulk RNA sequencings and single-cell RNA sequencings. The CGC also provides project consultation and advanced bioinformatics services and collaboration.
Due to the reliable and fast-turnaround services, the core has built a user group with more than 100 investigators from UTHealth Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Texas A&M University and more. In addition, CGC service has contributed to many publications and grant applications. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, CGC has maintained reliable services and developed multiple new pipelines, including single-cell multiome (ATAC sequencing and transcriptome sequencing), Visium Spatical transcriptomcis, and ultra-low input mRNA sequencing. The new services will continue to be explored and added to support the research needs of the community.
Services
NGS services
- Free consultation on study design and sample submission
- DNA/RNA preparation, library preparation, and NGS
- Sequencing services including mRNA-seq, scRNA-seq, ChIP-seq, sRNA-seq, DNA-seq
- For other sequencing services, please contact us.
Other services
- Grant proposal development
- NGS training in bioinformatics
Bioinformatics services
- NGS data analysis (WGS, WES, microRNA, ChIP-seq, single cell RNA-seq, methylation, etc.)
- Array data analysis such as GWAS, CNV, and methylation analysis
- Advanced bioinformatics services including:
- Gene set enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology, pathways, etc.)
- Network analysis
- Disease association analysis
- Functional genomics analysis
- Results interpretation
- Machine learning and applications
- Databases
- Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics data analysis
Equipment
- Illumina NextSeq 550
- 10x Genomics Chromium X Controller
- 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist
- 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer
- Cell Countess II
- Qubit 4 DNA/RNA/Protein quantitation system
- Bio-Rad C1000 Touch Thermal Cycler with Deep-Well block
- Eppendorf Centrifuge 5430R and 5810R
- CryoCube® F740hi -80C Freezer
- QS3 QPCR System
Core personnel
- Zhongming Zhao, PhD, Director
- Wenbo Li, PhD, NGS Sequencing Leader
- Wankun Deng, PhD, Bioinformatics Leader
- Xian Chen, PhD, Program Manager
- Yulin Dai, PhD, Bioinformatics
- Citu Citu, PhD, Bioinformatics
- Zachary M. Robinson, NGS Support
- Shipra Pant, PhD, NGS Support
CGC Use Policy
1. All services must be requested, managed, and paid for through the iLab system.
2. Services will only be provided for samples that meet the requirements listed on the CGC website. CGC reserves the full right to interpret these requirements.
3. For UTHealth Houston users, a valid CFS must be provided before service results can be released. For all other users, a valid PO must be provided before service results can be released.
4. The prices listed in iLab reflect the current service costs. Prices are subject to adjustment by the core facility at any time, and the core reserves the right to interpret and determine pricing.
5. After the data transfer notification is sent, project data will be stored on encrypted external drives for up to three (3) months. After this period, the data may be deleted.
6. Upon request, data may be transferred through the Aspera system. Data transferred through Aspera will be retained for one (1) month and then deleted. A notification will be sent prior to deletion.
7. Leftover samples and libraries will be discarded one (1) month after project completion. Users are responsible for either picking up the remaining samples/libraries from CGC or providing a shipping label for the return shipment of the samples/libraries.
8. New requests from laboratories with outstanding payments pending for more than one (1) year will be reviewed to determine whether the new request can be accepted.
9. While we often consult biotech companies to support PIs/users with technical issues or new project design, the core facility retains final decision-making authority on service provision based on sample quality and established standards.
Acknowledgement
The CGC is supported by CPRIT Core Facility Support Grants (#RP240610). Please use one of the following formats to acknowledge in your manuscripts:
- The sequencing data was generated by the UTHealth Houston Cancer Genomics Core, supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT RP240610).
- We thank the technical support provided by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT RP240610).