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BioLab

BioLab at OICR is a shared instrumentation division that provides advanced state-of-the-art equipment, tools and technical know-how to support lab research activities for OICR researchers and collaborators.

The mission of BioLab is to educate, enable and inspire OICR researchers and collaborators to achieve their research objectives and professional development goals by providing instrument access, knowledge transfer and continued education on advanced cancer technologies and innovations.

BioLab provides its educational offerings through three main intersecting activities:

  • BioLab provides access to advanced technology and leading-edge instrumentation, tools and supports training that brings new knowledge and skills.
  • To maximize the exposure to current knowledge in transdisciplinary cancer research, BioLab offers participation in the networks of science communication such as online webinars and virtual events.
  • BioLab fosters educational collaboration between researchers and technology providers by sharing knowledge, resources and expertise for faster and more effective communication and learning.

BioLab Hub

To better assist OICR researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic, BioLab has extended its educational offerings by launching the BioLab Hub initiative.

BioLab Hub posts bi-weekly selections of free webinars and virtual events (symposiums, conferences, and summits) on new technologies, instrumentation, applications and innovations related to cancer research.

Upcoming Events

Sorting It Out: A Comprehensive Webinar on Single Cell Flow Cytometry
April 25, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

This educational webinar will provide an overview of cell sorting techniques used to isolate individual cells based on specific characteristics, such as size, shape, and fluorescence for downstream analysis. Several key fundamental concepts will include an introduction to flow cytometry and cell sorting, instrumentation and setup, sample preparation, and cell sorting applications.  

Topics to be covered:

  • Introduction to flow cytometry and cell sorting: Identify concepts of flow cytometry and cell sorting, including the basic components and principles of the technology.
  • Instrumentation and setup: Review the different types of cell sorting, essential components of a flow cytometry setup as it relates to single cell sorting, and how they interact with each other.
  • Sample preparation: Discuss the importance of sample preparation and how to ensure optimal results. 
  • Cell sorting applications: Discuss a few applications of cell sorting, including the isolation of specific cell populations for downstream analysis, the creation of clonal cell lines, and the generation of single cell libraries.
Current Trends in Cancer Immunotherapy with a Focus on Cytokine Therapies
April 25, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

Several promising immunotherapies have emerged in recent decades due to advances in cancer immunology. The paradigm of cancer treatment has shifted as a result of these developments. Activating innate and adaptive immune mechanisms and shaping tumor immunogenicity are critical roles for the immune system in cancer treatment. Since the discovery of altered and dysregulated cytokine expression in all human cancers, it has become well-established that therapeutic strategies can enhance the growth-inhibiting and immunostimulatory effects of interferons and interleukins, like IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, and IL-15, as well as inhibit the inflammatory effects of cytokines such as TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6. 

This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of several cytokine therapy approaches, development, and clinical application.

Enumeration and Molecular Profiling of Circulating Tumor Cells for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Metastatic Cancer
April 25, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

A liquid biopsy is a non-invasive alternative to a surgical biopsy that enables researchers to learn a range of information about a tumor through a simple blood sample. Often the blood of those with metastatic cancer has been found to contain cells that are morphologically identical to cancer cells. These are known as circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, which are tumor cells that have shed from the primary tumor into the peripheral blood circulation system. Detection and analysis of CTCs within a liquid biopsy sample can allow for the monitoring of cancer progression over a period of time. Learn about methods for the enumeration and isolation of CTCs as well as the significance of molecular profiling of CTCs for the study and monitoring of metastatic cancers.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Novel Analytical Technologies Provide a New Perspective on a Complex Organ
April 26, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

 In this webinar, Dr. Rebekah L. Gundry Ph.D., FAHA will describe the development and application of new analytical platforms that enable rapid identification and quantification of cell surface glycoproteins in human heart cells.

Gene Writing and Rewriting: The Key to Unlocking its Full Potential
April 27, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

This GEN webinar is on the latest gene writing and gene rewriting advancements. The distinguished guests, Grigoriy Sterin and Dr. Evan Floden will explore these developments, providing insight into how to unlock the full potential of gene writing through better management practices. In addition, these revolutionary techniques can potentially treat and cure diseases at their source by identifying promising protein and DNA signatures through RNAseq and other pipelines. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about the future of genetic medicine.

Lessons From The Laboratory: Your Tissue Processing Questions, Answered
April 27, 2023 I 3:00 p.m. EDT

As part of her popular “Lessons from the Laboratory” series, Robin answers real questions from practitioners doing tissue processing in research laboratories globally. From identifying optimal steps to high-quality tissue processing to understanding the best way to reprocess a specimen, the speaker will help you solve your most challenging tissue-processing dilemmas.

This webinar is intended for research practitioners of every level but assumes some familiarity with the tissue processing and fixation stages.

Unlock Single Cell Mysteries from FASTQs to Figures with 10x Genomics Cloud and Cellenics®
April 27, 2023 I 9:00 a.m. EDT

Single cell analysis is a powerful technique to characterize complex tissue types, identify rare cell populations, uncover regulatory relationships between genes, and track cell trajectories. Join 10x Genomics and Biomage for a hands-on virtual workshop to learn how to get the most out of 10x Genomics Single Cell solutions. We will begin with an overview of the workflow and an introduction to 10x Genomics Single Cell solutions, followed by an introduction to the Cellenics® platform, a fast and user-friendly tool that enables biologists to analyze single cell datasets from FASTQ files to publication-ready figures without needing to develop programming skills.

How to overcome hurdles in molecular diagnostics
Apr 28, 2023 I 2:00 a.m. EDT

Biotechnology has spurred countless innovations in medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes through enhanced understanding of pathogenic mechanisms, better diagnostic assays, and more effective therapeutic interventions. These improvements are continuously shaping the way modern medicine is practiced, and constantly forcing medical scientists and practitioners to develop new diagnostic assays and treatment regimens. To this end, many clinically focused research laboratories have implemented strategies to better address current deficiencies in diagnostic testing through the development, optimization, and eventual validation and use of diagnostic tests.

This webinar will discover how to overcome hurdles in developing molecular diagnostics (MDx) assays.

Clinical Samples in Flow Cytometry: Best Practices and Strategies for Sample Preparation and Sample Choice
May 2, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

Using flow cytometry in your multicenter or biomarker-guided clinical trial? The quality of flow cytometry data is dependent on the quality of your cells. Understanding the best method of sample preparation and choosing a sample type can be crucial to obtaining robust, valid data. Join us for a webinar that explores ways to address the complexities of preparing a clinical sample for flow cytometry and relevant case studies.

Learn the key techniques and several strategies for increasing sample stability, alternatives to whole blood samples in flow cytometry, and their successful implementations in clinical studies.

Tertiary Lymphoid Structures to the Forefront of Immunotherapy: What Are They Good For?
May 2, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are ectopic cellular hubs that coordinate immunity within patient tumors. TLS also correlate with improved prognosis and superior response to immunotherapy. While secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) are used for an initial definition of TLS, in depth spatial imaging is necessary to understand differences within TLS in various solid tumors. In this webinar, Dr. Bruno will discuss the varying TLS types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and new discoveries on the definition of a TLS.

How an AI Enabled Solution for MSI Screening can Modernize and Potentially Optimize Pathology Workflows
May 9, 2023 I 11:00 a.m. EDT

Discover the latest research about the MSI biomarker and learn about a novel AI method for a pre-screening approach in colorectal cancer, called MSIntuit CRC.

Topics to be covered:

  • The need and opportunities for digitization in the pathology sector
  • AI methodologies that promote confidence in these tools in clinical routine
  • An use case for AI Augmentation: MSI pre-screening in colorectal cancer
  • Provide in-region applications: implications of adoption of such technology in Spain
Gibco Cell Culture Heroes: Investigating the biology of cell-in-cell structures in the human liver using a range of microscopy modalities
May 9, 2023 I 8:00 a.m. EDT

Join the Gibco Cell Culture Heroes webinar featuring Scott Philip Davies, PhD, MRes, MSci as he presents “Investigating the biology of cell-in-cell structures in the human liver using a range of microscopy modalities.” 

Scott will share how advances in high content imaging and automated analysis have improved the understanding of lymphocyte cell-in-cell structures formation in the liver.

Advances in high content imaging (HCI) have improved the use of cell culture to make a large number of comparisons within individual experiments.

In this talk he will outline his experience of using HCI and automated analysis to understand lymphocyte CICS formation in the liver. He will also focus on how we can combine observations made in vivo using fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry to interpret and plan efficient HCI assays for understanding the formation and consequences of CICS.

Explore the Basics of Implementing Analytical Validation (AV) for qPCR
On Demand

Real-time PCR (qPCR), also known as quantitative PCR, is the gold standard for sensitive, specific detection and quantification of nucleic acid targets. Our qPCR solutions include powerful assay designs, algorithms, optimized master mixes, intuitive data analysis software for developing infectious disease panels, pharmacogenomic panels, oncology panels, and more.

The analytical validation (AV) of qPCR assays required for test implementation can, however, be a complex and time‑consuming task.

What’s Hot in Synthetic Biology?
On demand

The synbio field, a key player in the bioeconomy, is taking on some of today’s biggest challenges—from developing and manufacturing sustainable materials to helping solve the climate crisis. What is some of the hottest synbio research right now and where is the industry going?

On this episode of GEN Live, John Cumbers, PhD, CEO of SynBioBeta and Shelby Newsad, PhD, Investor at the Venture Capital firm Compound, join us for a broad discussion on the state of synbio—where the field is now and where it’s heading.

Next Generation Solutions for Proteomics Sample Preparation
On demand

The PreOmics team will introduce the PreOmics easy-to-use iST technology. This fast 3-step workflow is designed to be a great support for both those new to proteomics and experts alike. The all-in-one iST kits are compatible with a variety of starting materials, including mammalian and plant samples, different types of tissue and cells, as well as various biological fluids in label-free and chemical labeling applications.The protocols promise an incredibly fast processing time (<2.5 hours) and are easily applicable without compromising sample quality or proteomic depth. Furthermore, iST can be fully automated to further increase standardization, reproducibility, and throughput.

Advancements in Manufacturing for Rapid Delivery of pDNA Starting Materials
On demand

This GEN webinar will explore developments within Charles River’s plasmid DNA (pDNA) CDMO service offerings, including platform screening and manufacturing approaches, improved supply chain management, 100% in-house testing, and, most recently, the launch of off-the-shelf plasmid products for viral vector manufacture.

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