Overview of Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility
Our Mission
| The ES Core Facility (ECF) was founded by the NINDS Core Center Grant and was established to benefit the contributors of this proposal. The mission of ECF is to effectively produce ES cell lines with a high probability of germline transmission. The Embryonic Stem Cell Engineering Core promotes interactions among a diverse group of neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University. This has facilitated the completion of many studies that represent advances relevant to key issues in basic and clinical neuroscience. [Publications presenting work supported by the Embryonic Stem Cell Engineering Core] |
Location
The ES Cell Core is located in Room 915, Wood Basic Science Building, at 725 North Wolfe St. The phone number is 410-614-3858..
Support
A great deal of expertise is available to users of the Embryonic Stem Cell Engineering Core. Director Paul Worley has extensive experience in identifying steps in the process of ES cell targeting for new investigators, and in helping to develop protocols that allow for productive collaboration between the ES Cell Core and individual labs within the neuroscience community. In addition, consultant Bo Xiao has generated conditional knockout mice for several genes, and can assist in review of targeting construct design, the generation of targeting constructs, and in screening methods for homologous recombination and colony maintenance. Holly Wellington, Research Specialist, has extensive experience with the molecular and cell culture techniques which are critical to the core. Finally, we benefit from interactions with Chip Hawkins, manager of the Johns Hopkins Transgenic Core Laboratory, who has extensive experience in creating transgenic mice.
Core Service
Services provided by the Core for a typical project include:
- Provide guidance on the design of targeting construct
- Generate targeted ES cell lines for the production of chimeric mice
- Karyotyping ES cells to be micro-injected into blastocysts
Consultation is available from ECF directors and staff members on the entire procedures of generating gene knock-out mice.
Application for Service
Prior to the initiation of a project, a brief meeting is generally required between the investigator and ECF facility staff resulting in a mutually acceptable research strategy. This strategy will outline specifics of the project including knockout strategy, KO construct design, screening assays, and other procedural issues relevant to the generation of targeted ES cells. In addition, a completed service application form, signed by the principal investigator and approved by the Core Director, will also be required. The Core Director will prioritize the service requests according to the difficulty of the project and work load. |
Contact Information
Paul Worley M.D., Core Director, pworley@jhmi.edu; 410-955-4050
Alex Kolodkin, Ph.D., Center Director, kolodkin@jhmi.edu; 410-614-9499
Chip Hawkins, Core Manager, chawkins@jhmi.edu; 410-614-3858
For more information on The ES Core Facility