Our Services

Single-Cell

Working closely alongside our colleagues in the Flow Cytometry Core Facility and Bioinformatics Support Unit, the GCF maintains a state-of-the-art single-cell isolation and sample processing lab, equipped with the 10X Genomics Chromium platform and Fluidigm C1.

Our services include:

• expression analysis
• immune profiling
• ATAC (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin) applications
• 'Plate-based' single-cell and enriched 'mini-bulk' (10-1000 cells) mRNA-Seq and Total RNA-Seq

All GCF single cell applications are delivered as an end-to-end service.

For users wishing to isolate rare cells from complex tissue samples, the facility offers access (training included) to the Leica LMD7 (laser-capture micro-dissection).​

In addition, the Chromium controller can be made available (training included) to Newcastle University staff working on 'fresh from theatre' samples (including pre-arranged out-of-hours access).

Spatially Resolved Transciptomics At Newcastle (SpaRTAN)

Spatial Transcriptomics is a powerful technology combining the disciplines of histology, imaging and NGS data analysis, enabling researchers to overlay and visualise gene expression (mRNA) in context with a tissue section. 

One of only a few Certified Service Providers offering the Visium technology from 10X Genomics, Newcastle University is able to provide an end-to-end service by combining the expertise of several specialist units.

The GCF offers scalable droplet-digital PCR using the BioRad QX200 AutoDG (up to 96 reactions per run), and real-time PCR using the BioRad CFX Touch (up to 96 reactions per run) and the Fluidigm BioMark HD (up to 9216 reactions per run). ​

Commonly used for target validation and high-throughput screening, all three instruments are available (training included) as 'open access' platforms.

Options for analysis include:

• Copy number variation
• Rare variant detection
• Gene expression
• miRNA abundance
• CRISPR screening​

The team utilise a range of instruments to assist with DNA or RNA sample processing. The Agilent TapeStation 4200 and PerkinElmer LabChip GX Touch HT are used for sample or sequencing library quality assessment. The Diagenode Bioruptor Pico is used where samples require fragmentation. 

All three instruments are available (training included) as 'open access' platforms.​

The facility is organised around task-specific work areas, comprising five dedicated labs. This offers flxibility to accommodate colleagues during training sessions or instrument / application demonstrations.