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Duke Testimonial
Running an efficient operation is difficult to do while trying to keep up with your science and the demand of your investigators. The processing activities associated with generating data can actually impact how well your organization can analyze the data; therefore effective and efficient operations are a requirement. In addition, once data generation is complete, the following activities are necessary to conclude an experiment:
Verifying and compiling results
Posting results on your institute's server
Issuing invoices or billing against a grant
Scheduling future experiments and support staff
In addition to these scientific activities, the business side of running a core facility then takes over, possibly taking more of your time than the bench work. These activities may include:
Negotiating vendor contracts
Determining charge-back costs
Coordinating equipment repairs
Calibrating and cleaning instruments
Calculating equipment depreciation costs
Renewing Service Contacts and PM contracts
Checking reagent stock for future experiments
Validating reagents and handling replacement arrays
Purchasing equipment upgrades
Expression Analysis understands this disproportionate relationship and offers the Core Facility Program. Researchers can send their Tissue or RNA (Total/Fragmented/Un-fragmented/Labeled) directly to the Expression Analysis Affymetrix Core Facility. Immediately upon receipt, we begin all required activities in our Affymetrix Core Facility necessary to provide comprehensive data summaries back to them, allowing their research to continue. Being an Affymetrix GeneChip processing company, we handle all scientific activities (in a comprehensive SOP driven quality environment), and all associated business related activities. By capturing economies of scale we can often offer pricing at rates far less than what it might take to do this internally.
For more information on how you can take advantage of our Core Facility Program, contact Steve Siferd.
Costs of Running A Core Facility
The "true costs" of running a microarray core facility are frequently underestimated. In addition to laboratory space and personnel, factors such as charge back rates, equipment depreciation and opportunity costs need to be considered to make sure the financial return is worth the investment. Researcher and technician time used for routine processing needs should be measured against the use of this talent in areas more directly related to discovery, development and analysis. Expression Analysis has prepared a detailed assessment of the costs involved in the generation of microarray data and has established internal methods to increase productivity while improving quality.
If you would like to have an example of the cost breakout to run a core facility or have us do a personalized analysis for your facility, please email Steve Siferd or contact him directly at (919) 405-2248.
How You Can Work With Us
Expression Analysis offers expert Affymetrix GeneChip processing from sample receipt to data delivery working directly with your researchers. We offer complete sample preparation and handling, customized statistical analysis and outstanding customer service. These services can be provided to an individual researcher, or we can work on entire projects that don't fit into your capabilities. We can also take over the management of all of your microarray processing needs to include the administrative requirements.
Working with us is easy - just email Steve Siferd or contact him directly at (919) 405-2248, and he can discuss all of the options with you, tailoring a program specific to your needs.
Duke Testimonial
Duke Program Background
Duke University enrolled in the Expression Analysis Core Facility Program in October of 2001. The program provided solutions to Duke's initiatives to lower costs, increase available lab space and re-focus their technical staff on more cutting-edge activities.
Prior to enrolling, the core director had completed a detailed cost analysis of their microarray program and determined that the fees being charged to investigators were less than their costs. To fully operate under a break-even scenario, the charge-back rates would have to have been substantially higher. Expression Analysis was able to provide this service at rates much less than they could do for themselves. In addition, the space and personnel were freed up so Duke could expand the research capabilities offered to their investigators.
Testimony
"Implementation of the Expression Analysis Core Facility Program has been seamless to the investigators at Duke. Our microarray core group does all experimental design, analysis consulting and sample submissions of Affymetrix experiments. The processing of the probes and generation of data is performed at Expression Analysis and then transferred to the investigator through the Duke Microarray Facility that maintains the records and populates the Duke microarray expression database (BASE) in a MIAME compliant fashion. There are several important benefits Duke investigators have received from the partnership with Expression Analysis. First, there is the benefit of the economies of scale that help bring overall microarray processing costs down, which are passed on to Duke investigators. Second, the allotment of time previously used for the generation of data can now be spent on the development of a bioinformatics and analysis infrastructure as an additional resource for Duke investigators. Third, the expertise at Expression Analysis and their commitment to quality and reliability has resulted in a decrease of processing variation commonly seen in microarray experiments. Their service incorporates quality control measurements, rapid turn around time, and technical bioinformatics support for data analysis. Finally, by moving the Affymetrix system off campus, much needed space in the Duke Microarray Facility is now available for the development and expansion of other technologies for gene expression analysis, such as printed microarrays, providing an alternate platform for gene expression analysis to complement the use of Affymetrix arrays."
Holly Dressman, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
Director, Duke Microarray Facility
Visit the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy website!
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