Mission
The Genomic Technology (GT) Core (formerly Genomics and Molecular Resources (GMR) Core) aims to provide investigators access to state-of-the-art technologies for rheumatic disease research. Working closely with the Human Subjects and Clinical Phenotyping (CDI) Core, the GT Core facilitates 1) acquisition, processing, storage and management of biospecimens in a secure and carefully monitored setting; 2) access to the most appropriate genomics and molecular phenotyping technologies for research aimed at advancing precision medicine in rheumatology; and 3) coordination of research infrastructure across the clinical facilities and laboratories that are required to advance rheumatology research. The GT Core will also ensure that high quality genomics and molecular phenotyping data are generated and distributed to the Integrative Bioinformatics (IB) Core for integration with clinical data and statistical analysis.
Specifically, the GT Core will:
- Develop a state-of-the-art laboratory information management system (LIMS) for tracking biospecimen data for rheumatic disease patients throughout the entire process from sample acquisition to data generation.
- Consolidate the storage and management of the numerous existing rheumatic disease biospecimen collections and facilitate the processing, storage, and management of future biospecimens collected from rheumatic disease patients, from childhood to old age.
- Assemble a panel of experts in genomics and other molecular technologies (including immunologic and proteomic phenotyping) who will provide consultative services related to the appropriate application of genomics and molecular phenotyping of biospecimens for Center rheumatic disease projects.
- Serve as a liaison between investigators and other UCSF laboratory personnel to ensure that high quality genomics and molecular phenotyping data are generated and distributed to the IB Core for integration with clinical data and statistical analysis.