IMBA Stem Cell Core Facility

• Human iPS Reprogramming 
• Genome Targeting (Human & Mouse) 
• Quality Control 
• Haplobank

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ISCCF CONDITIONS 

1. We provide service for a fee. Before requesting a service please review our service costs.
2. Please get approval from your group leader (unless you are the GL) before submitting a request.
3. Please read our terms & conditions before submitting a service request. This is to ensure the user knows what to expect.
4. You can request a service through JIRA: https://jira.imp.ac.at/servicedesk/customer/portal/4. Your request will be automatically forwarded to the ISCCF team. By requesting any service you agree to our terms and conditions.

We are building an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Biobank.

The ISCCF engages with researchers and clinicians to establish a biobank of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC Biobank) from healthy and diseased cohorts. Our aim is to create a resource of iPS lines we can distribute for use to stem cell researchers.

Human iPSC Reprogramming Service:

We offer non-integrating reprogramming technologies to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). 

• Sendai Virus System
• Episomal Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen 1 plasmid system 

We reprogram cells under feeder-dependent conditions and are currently transitioning to feeder-free workflows. 

Starting tissue Material

• Fibroblasts from Skin biopsies (500,000 cells required) 
• Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) (2,000,000 cells required)  

NOTE: The facility must comply with existing ethics laws therefore all patient material for iPS derivation must receive ethics approval. 

For information on ethics approval process please contact: Ethics & Biosafety

To request the Human iPS Reprogramming Service:

1. Seek ethics approval for donor samples (for questions please contact Ethics & Biosafety)
2. Raise a request at https://jira.imp.ac.at/servicedesk/customer/portal/4; click on Human IPS Reprogramming

Useful Links:

Genome editing guides: https://www.addgene.org/crispr/ & https://zlab.bio/guide-design-resources/

gRNA design: https://www.sanger.ac.uk/htgt/wge/

Prolonged culture conditions and genetic manipulation of cells are processes that may expose cells to selection pressures and subsequently compromise cell fitness and stem cell properties. We recommend for researchers to test the quality of their lines routinely during their work.

The facility offers services for several quality standards for stem cells. 

You can request from us: 

• SNP array genotyping for genomic stability 
• Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis for cell line authentication 
• 3-lineage differentiation to determine potential (the facility does not carry out extensive or specialized differentiation protocols) 
• Preparation of mouse ES cells for blastocyst injection 
• Cell line expansion and banking of a cell line at our facility (banked material obtain unique LIMS tracking ID)
• Home E8 (10x stock) for hES/iPS use (IMBA groups only)  

To request a service in Quality Control in human and/or mouse stem cells: 

1. Read the Quality Standards page to get more informed (..\Cell line Validation & Services\Cell line guidlines.pdf)
2. Raise a request at: https://jira.imp.ac.at/servicedesk/customer/portal/4

ISCCF QUALITY STANDARDS

In the post-genomic era, science is accumulating large datasets from high-throughput screening. Validation of hits from such screens still requires genetic testing. To this end, we created Haplobank, a genome-wide library of murine ESC lines with defined genetic mutations. Haplobank contains over 100,000 conditionally mutated and reversible mESC clones, targeting about 70% of the protein-coding genome (almost 17,000 genes). The resource is available to all scientists, and represents the largest ever library of homozyogous mutant embryonic stem cell lines to date. Haplobank overcomes issues arising from clonal variability, because mutations can be repaired in single cells and at whole genome scale. In addition, the haploid genome of these embryonic stem cells enables reverse genetics. Haplobank can be used to functionally validate predictions or to study in-depth phenotypic effects of gene loss, thereby helping to phenotypically annotate the mouse genome. 

For more information about the Haplobank and ordering of cell lines visit the website (https://www.haplobank.at)

ISCCF Service Fees include: Genome Targeting consumables
For more information on ISCCF fees contact: Jennifer Volz and Sofia Aligianni

Important Info: 

• For internal requests: Because of overcapacity and increasing cost, ISCCF does not incorporate in it's pipeline GENOTYPING on the single clone stage. Instead, the researcher will be provided with batch-validated genotyping PCR conditions to screen single clones in their own lab. Once researchers have identified the clones of interest, the facility resumes service in expansion and final validation and quality control (QC) of those clones.
• If a researcher wishes the VBCF facility to perform genotyping on single clones an extra fee of aprox. 200eu/24 clones will apply. Contact Krzysztof Chylinski for more info.

Jennifer Volz, Elisabeth Stein, Miroslava Peterkova, Miroslava Spanova, Madalina Mirea, Michelle Foong-Sobis, Manuela Kinzer, Sofia Aligianni, Nicole Leeb, Nina Van de Loo, Cindy Horenburg

We use well-established protocols which we adapt to our service pipelines. However, a lot of projects can be challenging due to technical and/or biological reasons we cannot control, and that may cause the service to be paused or stopped entirely. Our goal is to make this process transparent and help you prepare before requesting one of our services. Here you will find information on the ISCCF conditions, as well as considerations for your project planning. 

We kindly ask users to read and agree to the ISCCF Service Terms & Conditions before requesting our services.

DOWNLOAD FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS