Clinical Support Laboratory

The Clinical Support Laboratory offers processing, tracking, and testing of a broad range of clinical samples. Support can begin at the early stages of clinical trial development to aid in developing a comprehensive strategy for sample collection, processing, and testing with a special emphasis on immunologic testing. The lab collaborates with partners to develop customized assays or transfer existing assay technology with assay validation, data analysis and interpretation of results. Processing specializes in PBMC isolation and controlled rate freezing, ELISA based biomarker testing, and multiplex biomarker analysis using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) and Luminex platforms, and a broad spectrum of bioassays to assess cellular responses to antigens and mitogens including ELISPOT, cytotoxicity assays (e.g., ADCC), and proliferation assays. CSL supports CCR, DCEG, and NIAID Investigators and is available to advise Investigators from other Institutes. CSL is operated by Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. on behalf of NCI as part of the Frederick National Laboratory.

Clinical trials processing section:

• Receive, process, preserve, and record clinical trial samples.
• Provide materials for real-time testing by other sections in the laboratory.
• Perform special techniques including separating cell populations with magnetic beads, and isolating DNA and RNA from some samples with commercially available kit technology.

Cell-mediated immunity section:

• Develop cell-based assays and provide immunological monitoring.
• Use fully developed assays that evaluate adaptive immunity:
• Cellular proliferation

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC):

• NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity
• Single & Multiplex enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays
• Live-cell metabolic assays

Flow cytometry section (see separate CREx page):

• Analyze mixed cell samples with phenotype (cell-surface) markers and intracellular markers, such as cytokines and transcription factors.
• Perform tetramer staining.
• Measure intracellular kinase activity in cell subsets.
• Analyze samples from human and nonhuman primates.
• Provide flow cytometry services to investigators.

Cytokine testing section:

• Perform a wide range of assays for soluble biomarkers that include: Cytokines, Chemokines, Soluble receptors, and Other biomarkers.
• Provide MesoScale Discovery and Luminex assay platforms for testing, which enable increased sensitivity, shortened turn-around time, and enhanced cost-effectiveness.

Cell culture service:

• Perform propagation of human cell lines and transfection.
• Prepare primary cultures from human punch biopsies to generate primary fibroblast cell lines.
• Provide human B-cell immortalization using Epstein-Barr virus.