Facilities and Equipment - Translational Laboratory

The Translational Laboratory is located in room BRB-7010 (approximately 850 square feet), on the 7th floor of the Bressler Research Building at the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. Animal work will be performed in the Vivarium operated by the University of Maryland School of Medicine Veterinary Resources (VR). Space in holding rooms (HH 651) equipped for the housing of immune-competent or immune-deficient mice has been allocated to the Translational Laboratory. VR has an Animal Welfare Assurance on file with the NIH Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR), Assurance no. A3200-01.

Equipment and procedures which are unique to the Translational Laboratory include:

• xCELLigence Real-time System (by Acea) to measure cell proliferation, migration and invasion in real-time
• High-throughput plate reader for fluorescence, luminescence, and UV/VIS detection
• Fully automated high-throughput colony counter for clonogenic assays
• Leica DM4000 microscope with fluorescence light and phase contrast light sources, cooled camera with monochrome and color filters, automated x,y,z stage, and imaging software (Openlab, Improvision)
• Protein and RNA analysis
  • RNA expression/DNA analyses (PCR, Real-time PCR, electrophoresis
  • protein expression analyses (Western blot, ELISA)
• An IACUC-approved umbrella animal use protocol “Animal Models for Studying Tumor Biology and for the Evaluation of Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Endpoints of Novel and Experimental Cancer Therapies” for following procedures considered key in preclinical anticancer drug development exists (#011-1008):
  • Determination of the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of a novel agent;
  • Establishment of human tumor xenografts or murine tumor lines from model cell lines (e.g. target transfected) and tissues;
  • Tumor efficacy experiments in traditional s.c. nude mouse xenografts of a test compound versus standard agents alone or in combination;
  • Determination of pharmacodynamic endpoints in xenograft efficacy models using serum or tumor tissue based parameters.
  • Orthotopic models – breast, prostate, other
  • Xenogen System (visualization of luciferase or GFP-tagged cells)