Biorepository and cell services core facility

Our service allows simple access to storage, tracking and risk management of tissue samples, cell lines and any other biological samples, including human tissue samples, in accordance with current legislation. We also provide up-to-date expertise, training and troubleshooting in all aspects of cell and tissue culture, to maintain a consistently high standard throughout the Institute. The Biorepository is used extensively by most research groups at the CRI.

Cell services

We provide basic cell culture training for all scientists at the CRI, as well as a regular and comprehensive mycoplasma testing service, a batch testing service for serum and other cell culture media components, and quality controlled bulk culture of research cell lines, including mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). We also offer a routine human cell line authentication service using multiplex PCR and short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. Regular cell line authentication is important both to confirm integrity of data and as a requirement for publication in many leading journals. Biorepository staff also keep fully up-to-date with the latest cell and tissue culture based technology, methods and equipment, by attending relevant conferences, meetings, seminars and courses.

Biorepository core facility's surgery computer (Biorepository core facility report 2010; figure 1)
Figure 1
The facility's surgery computer

The Human Tissue Act

Biorepository staff advise on, monitor and control the import, use, storage and disposal of human tissue samples for research, to ensure full compliance with the Human Tissue Act and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Codes of Practice, a statutory requirement for all research involving human tissue samples. We advise on how to request human tissue samples from the Addenbrooke’s Hospital Tissue Bank and other sources, and how to obtain Local Research Ethics Committee approval for new research projects involving the use of human tissues.

2010 developments

We have expanded and developed to provide an ever improving service to a growing Institute.

New services include:

  • Introduction of a routine (monthly) human cell line authentication service using STR profiling.
  • Introduction of a second Essen BioScience IncuCyte™ instrument.
    This is a compact, automated live cell imaging platform designed to provide kinetic, non-invasive live cell imaging. The instrument is located in a 5% CO2 incubator and acquires high-definition phase contrast images of live cells in microplates, cell-culture dishes and cell-culture flasks. Custom image processing software calculates a variety of image metrics, such as cell proliferation assays and growth curves, wound closure assays, optimisation of cell based assays and the optimisation of cell culture media components. The instrument has proved to be extremely useful and popular and is heavily used by many of the research groups at the CRI.

Biorepository core facility's isolation cabinet (Biorepository core facility report 2010; figure 2)
Figure 2
The facility's isolation cabinet

Future developments

We have identified a number of new services and initiatives that will further facilitate and enhance research at the CRI when implemented. These include:

  • Introducing and optimising a phage display antibody library. A human single fold scFv library will enable us to very rapidly derive monoclonal antibodies to almost any target molecule requested.
  • We plan to install a third Essen BioScience IncuCyte™ instrument. Our two existing instruments are used at full capacity and are producing high quality data. A third instrument would give us the option of running screens in containment level 2 or low oxygen conditions.


Facility manager
Bob Geraghty is the head of the Biorepository and cell services core facility.