Core Facility

The University of Minnesota Genomics Center (UMGC) is a multi-facility resource encompassing a broad range of services, with applications spanning structural and functional genomics, epigenomics, microbiome analysis, genotyping, single-cell genomics, spatial genomics, and a host of pre-analytical services.

UMGC Facility and Instrument Document

Staff and Laboratories

50 scientists are housed in a total of three laboratories encompassing roughly 20,000 square feet. The UMGC has a budget of ≈ $15M per year and hundreds of internal and external PI clients.

Services

A complete list of “catalog” services (those with fixed pricing) can be found under the above “Services” menu. Additionally, we offer “Custom” services for platforms where the scope is project-specific. Lastly, the UMGC operates a “CoLab” in which researchers receive training on advanced techniques and 24/7 access to select instrumentation (e.g., single-cell devices) for self-directed work. devices) for self-directed work.

Instrumentation

Sequencing: Two Ultima UG 200. Five Element Biosciences AVITI24s. One Oxford Nanopore P2 Solo. Services also offered via partnered outsourcing on PacBio Revio (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) and Illumina NovaSeq X Plus (multiple academic and industry partners).

Single-cell and Spatial Genomics: Two 10x Genomics Chromium X platforms. Parse genomics services. Mission Bio Tapestri. Miltenyi MACSQuant Tyto for cell sorting. LevitasBio LeviCell EOS System for cell enrichment. S2 Genomics Singulator S200 for tissue dissociation. 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist. AVITI24 for multiomic analysis on-sequencer.

Genotyping: Ten QuantStudio 5 and two QuantStudio 7 for Uniplex genotyping. Illumina Platform, including iScan scanner and autoloader, and two Tecan Infinium automation systems for Infinium genotyping chemistries.

Epigenomics: Illumina Platform including Illumina iScan scanner and autoloader, and two Tecan Infinium automation systems equipped for Infinium DNA methylation chemistries (EPIC array). DNA methylation analysis using NGS in combination with bisulfite sequencing and/or locus-specific sequence capture. PacBio Sequel DNA methylation sequencing. WGBS, RRBS, emSeq, biomodal modC and Evo Duet 5- and 6-base sequencing, Watchmaker TAPS.

Gene Expression: Ten QuantStudio 5 and two QuantStudio 7 real-time PCR instruments for real-time qPCR analysis. Bio-Rad QX200 Droplet Digital PCR system.

Miscellaneous: Over 40 PCR thermocyclers blocks (96- + 384-well). QIAGEN, Tecan, Beckman, Eppendorf, Integra, and Hydra liquid handling robots, as well as a Labcyte Echo 525 acoustic liquid handler. 8-channel Nanodrop quantitation instruments (2), and Agilent TapeStation 2000 high-throughput capillary electrophoresis systems (3).

Informatics

The UMGC has built and operates its own electronic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). For most services, projects are ordered online, and data are posted electronically. MSI’s Research Informatics Solutions (RIS) and the University of Minnesota Informatics Institute provide bioinformatic assistance.

Research

The UMGC carries out its own research, including grant-funded UMGC initiatives in the Innovation Lab (led by Dr. Daryl Gohl), continuous improvement tech development within the operational units of the UMGC, and collaborative projects with PIs across the UMN.