Embryonic Stem Cell Facility
Overview
The SickKids Embryonic and Transgenic Stem Cell Facility (ES facility) provides reliable high-quality technical service and support for the generation and maintenance of ES cell lines. All reagents and cell lines used in the facility are rigorously tested to ensure optimal conditions for the maintenance of pleuripotency. We work closely with the Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics (TCP), the Ontario Human iPS facility and other major facility users to stay up-to-date on current technologies allowing us to standardize and improve protocols.
Whether your lab is just starting out or you are an experienced ES cell laboratory, the SickKids ES Cell Core Facility can provide assistance in all areas of ES cell work. We provide a variety of services to both internal and external users including gene targeting in human, mouse and rat ES cells, feeders, standardized reagents, ES cell derivation and differentiation. Please see the services and rates sections for a full list of our services.
Why use us
All cell lines created within the ES facility are routinely screened for mycoplasma and other pathogens in accordance with TCP guidelines. If you hope to generate mice from your targeted construct, each cell line must have documented proof of testing prior to entering TCP. No further testing is required for cell lines generated in our facility before entering, thereby reducing both time and cost to individual investigators.
In addition to saving a lab the cost of MAP testing individual clones, the ES cell facility provides fully tested and standardized reagents such as FBS, KOSR and LIF. This too results in lower costs for the end user. Batch to batch variation of these reagents can have a great impact on the success of experiments requiring the generation of animals. The ES cell facility performs large scale testing of reagents right through to the generation of animals and provides these lots to both internal and external users. This high standard of testing minimizes batch variation, saving the end user both time and money.