The CAT Core provides a wide array of state-of-the-art instruments for self-service use, designed to support various stages of sequencing workflows, from library preparation and quality control to digital and qPCR applications. Users are encouraged to bring their own reagents, pipettes, and personal protective equipment, including gloves and none of these items are available from the CAT. All equipment use must be scheduled through iLabs, where users can also sign up for mandatory training sessions to ensure proper handling and maintenance.
Several instruments, particularly those requiring specialized calibration or high-throughput capacity, have associated hourly service charges to cover maintenance and upkeep. Our goal is to provide researchers with seamless access to advanced tools in a flexible, self-service format while promoting best practices and effective lab management.
Library Preparation
10X Genomics Chromium X
- An advanced system for high-throughput single-cell and spatial sequencing, allowing precise partitioning and barcoding of single cells to create complex libraries for transcriptomic, genomic, and epigenomic studies.
Fluent Bio
- Single cell platform with flexible sample scales from a few hundred cells to hundreds of thousands of cells per sample.
Quality Control Instruments
Agilent TapeStation
- A QC system for analyzing the integrity and sizing of DNA and RNA samples via automated electrophoresis. TapeStation is commonly used to verify the quality of library prep before sequencing.
Agilent Femto Pulse
- A high-sensitivity capillary electrophoresis instrument, the Femto Pulse enables precise sizing and quantification of DNA and RNA, ideal for analyzing low-concentration samples or degraded nucleic acids.
Agilent BioAnalyzer
- An electrophoresis-based instrument for sizing and quantifying nucleic acids. Often used for RNA integrity assessment, it’s essential for ensuring high-quality libraries for sequencing applications.
Sequencers
Illumina MiSeq
- A benchtop sequencer designed for smaller-scale sequencing projects, such as amplicon sequencing, targeted gene panels, and microbial genomics, with a focus on accuracy and versatility.
Illumina MiSeq i100 (new instrument coming soon)
- A newer iteration in the MiSeq line, the i100 provides enhanced performance and speed, catering to clinical and research settings where rapid and cost-effective sequencing is crucial.
Automation
Beckman i7 96/Span8
- An automated liquid handler capable of handling up to 96 samples with high precision, designed to streamline library prep by automating processes like pipetting and reagent mixing.
Beckman i5 96 and i5 384
- Compact, versatile liquid handling systems capable of processing 96 or 384 samples, optimized for high-throughput workflows such as PCR setup and sequencing library prep.
Beckman Labcyte Echo 525 Acoustic Liquid Handler
- A unique liquid handler using acoustic waves for contactless dispensing, allowing for precise and contamination-free transfer of small volumes, ideal for low volume library prep, pooling, and qPCR.
Digital and qPCR
Bio-Rad QX200 ddPCR 2-plex
- A digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) instrument that performs highly sensitive and absolute quantification of nucleic acids, ideal for detecting rare mutations and quantifying gene expression levels.
Qiagen Qiacuity One 5-plex
- A real-time PCR instrument supporting up to 5 targets in a single reaction, enabling multiplex analysis of gene expression, SNP genotyping, and other nucleic acid quantification.
Bio-Rad CFX Connect 2-plex
- A dual-channel real-time PCR system used for two-target amplification, suitable for routine applications in gene expression and detection of target nucleic acids.
Bio-Rad CFX384 4-plex
- A high-throughput, four-channel qPCR system accommodating 384-well plates, designed for large-scale gene expression studies and high-sensitivity nucleic acid quantification.