Facilities
A guide to some of the immunology facilities across the Medical Sciences Division
Find out who has the piece of equipment you'd like to use by searching the University's Facility and Equipment Database.
Imaging facilities available across the Medical Sciences Division
multiplex imaging users group
This group aims to connect researchers working with the numerous multiplex imaging technologies across the University, including Zellscanner (Peter Medawar Building), CellDive (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology), Vectra Polaris (Old Road Campus Research Building), Codex (WIMM), Hyperion (WIMM), Nanostring GeoMx (NDS, JR). For more information about the group please join the Multiplex Imaging Users Group Teams site.
Oxford Biomedical Imaging Network
In 2007 the University established a joint MSD/MPLS Biomedical Imaging Network. This network links together the various departmental-based imaging programmes and attempts to promote a coordinated biomedical imaging strategy and collaborative environment. This Network has links to most imaging facilities across the University.
Micron Oxford Advanced Bioimaging Unit
Micron Oxford aims to develop and apply new and emerging advanced microscopy technologies to facilitate important discoveries in basic biomedical research. To achieve this, we coordinate and manage the interdepartmental and interdisciplinary cooperation required to lower the activation energy for biologists to become early adopters of advanced imaging methods.
Our advanced microscopy facilities are located across Oxford primarily in Biochemistry, Dunn School, WIMM and WTCHG. However, we include scientists in many other departments, including, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, CNCB, DPAG, Kennedy and Diamond. Our facilities include all flavours of super resolution imaging modalities as well as single molecule methods and CLEM. We develop and adopt new technologies across all areas of Microscopy: Probe development, specimen preparation, instrument preparation and image analysis.
The Wolfson Imaging Centre
The Wolfson Imaging Centre at the WIMM contains a diverse range of wide-field and confocal microscopes suitable for imaging specimens ranging in complexity from single cells to small laboratory animals.
Support for bioinformatic analysis
Many departments, institutes and units within the University provide core bioinformatic support for their researchers. For example, the Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics Core (BSG) at the WTCHG provides support to research groups in the processing and statistical analysis of a broad range of genomic data; the Bioinformatics Core in the Department of Oncology provides expertise in computational biology ranging from applied statistics to computational and functional genomics.
WIMM Computational Research Group
The CBRG provides computing support for bioinformatics analysis at the University of Oxford. We have expertise in many aspects of bioinformatics and especially encourage collaborations that require writing custom software, bioinformatics tools and databases. An account with the CBRG gives automatic access to a large number of molecular biology computing packages.
Sources of expertise in genome engineering
Genome Engineering Oxford
Genome Engineering Oxford is a joint venture between the Dunn School of Pathology, DPAG, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. We provide a CRISPR design and testing service for generating experimentally tested vectors and are actively involved in developing new CRISPR methods and applications.
WIMM Genome Engineering Facility
The Genome Engineering Facility at the WIMM is a central core service set up to establish genetically modified model systems and is available to all researchers.
TDI Cellular HTS - CRISPR Screening Facility
The CRISPR/Cas9 system is ideal for genome-wide knockout and gain of function screening experiments due to the ease of generating gRNAs and the efficiency and irreversibility of Cas9-mediated genetic modifications. Daniel Ebner's group at the TDI have pooled lentivirus CRISPR knock-out and activation libraries that target all the genes in human and mouse genome.
FACS provisions and other cytometry resources available across the MSD
Flow cytometry
JR Hospital site
THE WIMM Flow Cytometry Facility has state of the art instrumentation for cell analysis and sorting. There are 8 analysers and 5 sorters that are available to external users.
The Experimental Medicine Division Flow Cytometry Facility is based in Room 5605, Level 5, John Radcliffe Hospital and offers a high-quality flow cytometry service to a variety of users. It is equipped with 2 analysers, 1 cell sorter and an Amnis Imagestream (imaging flow cytometer).
Old Road Campus
The Old Road Campus site has flow facilities based in the KIR, the Jenner Institute, the NDMRB, the Department of Oncology and the WTCHG
South Parks Road
The Dunn School Flow Cytometry Facility is equipped with 4 analysers, 2 sorters and an Amnis Imagestream (imaging flow cytometer). External users are welcome.
The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research run a Shared Cytometry Facility.
CyTOF
CyTOF facilities and training can be found at the WIMM and the Botnar Research Centre
QiaSymphony Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction Facility (QANE)
The Qiagen QiaSymphony SP and Agilent Tapestation 2200 have been set up as a Small Research Facility that is part of the Jenner Institute, in the Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford. The facility provides two main services:
With the QiaSymphony: Automated extraction of DNA or total RNA from a wide variety of source materials, or RNA from Paxgene blood tubes (not compatible with TEMPUS tubes).
With the Tapestation 2200: Quality analysis of cDNA up to 1Kb, gDNA, RNA (RINe calculation of quality) or protein 20-200KDa.