UTHealth Cancer Genomics Center

Overview of Services

The UTHealth Houston Cancer Genomics Center (CGC), a nonprofit core, was established in 2019 and funded by a CPRIT grant (RP180734). The CGC’s mission is to bring the newest next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to the research community and to help facilitate cutting-edge cancer research in the Texas Medical Center and other areas of Texas. The CGC offers the bulk DNA sequencings, the bulk RNA sequencings and single-cell RNA sequencings. The CGC also provides project consultation and advanced bioinformatics services and collaboration. Due to the reliable and fast-turnaround services, the core has built a user group with more than 100 investigators from UTHealth Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Texas A&M University and more. In addition, CGC service has contributed to many publications and grant applications. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, CGC has maintained reliable services and developed multiple new pipelines, including single-cell multiome (ATAC sequencing and transcriptome sequencing), Visium Spatical transcriptomcis, and ultra-low input mRNA sequencing. The new services will continue to be explored and added to support the research needs of the community.

NGS services

• Free consultation on study design and sample submission
• DNA/RNA preparation, library preparation, QC, and NGS
• Sequencing services including mRNA-seq, scRNA-seq, ChIP-seq, sRNA-seq, DNA-seq

Bioinformatics services

• NGS data analysis (WGS, WES, microRNA, ChIP-seq, single cell RNA-seq, methylation, etc.)
• Array data analysis such as GWAS, CNV, and methylation analysis
• Advanced bioinformatics services including gene set enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology, pathways, etc.), network analysis, disease association analysis, functional genomics analysis, results interpretation, machine learning and applications, databases, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics data analysis, among others.

Other services

• Grant proposal development
• NGS training in bioinformatics

Equipment

• Illumina NextSeq 550
• 10X Genomics Chromium X Controller
• 10x Genomics Visium CytAssist
• 10x Genomics Xenium-analyzer-instrument
• Cell Countess II
• Qubit 4 DNA/RNA/Protein quantitation system
• Bio-Rad C1000 Touch Thermal Cycler with Deep-Well block
• Eppendorf Centrifuge 5430R and 5810R
• CryoCube® F740hi -80C Freezer
• QS3 QPCR System

Leadership

Zhongming Zhao, PhD | Core Director
713-500-3631
Zhongming.Zhao@uth.tmc.edu

Xian Chen, PhD | Core Lab Manager
713-500-7933
Xian. Chen@uth.tmc.edu

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. Cancer Genomics Center Website

Contacts