The Integrative Cancer Genomics Shared Resource operates a continually updated facility to provide state-of- the-art instrumentation and protocol support to Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) researchers. The Shared Resource was created by the recent merger of two existing units at Duke: the Microarray Core Facility and the Genome Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility. Each of these predecessors has a track record more than a decade long of providing constantly updated, state-of-the-art genomic services to DCI members. Until recently, however, only the Microarray Core Facility had a partnership with the DCI and was supported by it. The new Integrative Cancer Genomics Shared Resource brings all of the genomic technologies on campus under a single organization and enables comprehensive consultation, seamless management of complex projects that span multiple services, enhanced operational flexibility, and economies of scale for support services such as IT and accounting. DCI members receive scheduling priority for Shared Resource services including SNP discovery, mapping chromatin modifications, measuring mRNA levels at several scales (single genes, cancer panels, entire transcriptome), sequencing exomes, identifying DNA methylation, and mapping transcription factor binding sites. The Shared Resource assists investigators with data quality control, versioning, statistical analysis, and dissemination for all of these services. The staff includes a Director who runs his own research lab, three full-time PhD level staff members, and seven highly experienced technicians. The Resource operates primarily on a cost-recovery basis, with institutional support for a portion of the operating costs and instrument purchases. Support from the DCI and Cancer Center Support Grant allows the Resource to provide consultations and assistance with grant and manuscript preparation to DCI members free of charge. User fees for other activities follow School of Medicine guidelines. DCI members account for approximately 39% of microarray service users and 14% of DNA sequencing service users of the Integrative Cancer Genomics Shared Resource. Use of the Resource contributed to 444 DCI publications during the funding period. The immediate goal of the Resource is to complete the merger of the predecessor cores. Its long-range objectives are (1) to continue offering start-to-finish, customized support to cancer researchers seeking genomic analyses, and (2) to continually update its instrumentation and range of services to keep pace with technological advances and to meet the needs of DCI members.
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