Monoclonal antibodies have become an essential tool in biochemistry, molecular biology, and medicine, andbasic and clinical investigators have been using them widely for research, diagnosis, and clinical therapy.The Monoclonal Antibodies Facility (MABF) was formally established in 2003. Its main goal is to producehigh-affinity antibodies in a high-throughput and effective manner, while concentrating on quality of productand service. The MABF minimizes extensive hands-on procedures and standardizes protocols to provideaccurate results and reproducibility.
Specific aims and long-term objectives are: 1) to produce high-affinitycustom monoclonal antibodies for a wide range of research projects; 2) to enable investigators to accesshighly-experienced personnel in hybridoma production and methodologies, and trouble-shoot any antigen orscreening-related issues; 3) to provide quality services at competitive prices; 4) to gain insight, by means ofthe generated antibodies, into the role that different molecules play in normal and pathological systems, andcharacterize them for eventual therapy or diagnosis. The MABF occupies 726 sq. ft. in SCRB 1, home to theCenter for Cancer Immunology Research (CCIR) on the South Campus which is equipped with customizedlaboratory services, centralized tissue culture rooms, liquid nitrogen tanks rooms, and glassware washingand sterilization facilities, all of which are available to the MABF. The MABF staff consists of Michel Gilliet,MD, Core Leader, is responsible for the direction of the core and chairs the oversight committee. Dr. Gillietmeets with Dr. Bover and Long Vien regularly concerning the overall operation of the MABF. Laura Bover,PhD, Core Co-Leader, is responsible for the overall operation of the MABF, for progress reports, interestresearchers in the use of the facility and assures that procedural and policy changes are vetted with theoversight committee. She is responsible together with Long Vien of the short- and long-term planning andgrowth of the facility. Long Vien, Core Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the core.Together with Dr. Bover, he plans and designs technical procedures for the different user requirements.James Wygant, Coordinator Research Laboratory, is responsible for technical procedures and makes thefirst contact with users. He records all activities of the facility and follows-up with users, gatheringinformation pertaining to publications, and grants used to cover the services. Rosa Munoz, ResearchAssistant, is responsible for technical procedures (hands-on). Future plans are to redesign our website toprovide more information on services and benefits in an effort to reach more researchers inside MDACC.The facility also needs to communicate more broadly about the unique value-added features of its services.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 12418 publications
