News
03 March 2020
Hybrid microscopes increase versatility and enhance collaboration for researchers at Stowers
Two innovative microscopes offering versatility and a streamlined user experience were installed at the Stowers Institute
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Cells, Tissues, and Organoids
The Cells, Tissues, and Organoids team provides technical and collaborative services to Stowers Institute scientists whose research involves the development and culture of cell lines and tissues for biological investigation.
The Cells, Tissues, and Organoids Center is hiring!
Overview of Services
Research Services
The Cells, Tissues, and Organoids team at Stowers comprises a group of experienced cell culture specialists who are dedicated to supporting the research staff in their tissue culture needs. The team provides mycoplasma testing, cell banking, small and large-scale cell expansion, transfection services, lentivirus production and transduction, CRISPR mutant cell line establishment, 3D organoids, and primary cell line derivation. Personal cell lines can be deposited in the Cells, Tissues, and Organoids library with the proper testing and IBC approval as needed. The Cells, Tissues, and Organoids team also provides training in various techniques for Stowers researchers.
Technologies
Routine services
- Small scale of mammalian cell line culture and cell banking (plates and T vessels)
- Large scale of mammalian cell expansion (spinner vessels and roller bottles)
- Small scale of insect cell line culture and cell banking (plates, T vessels and small shakers)
- Large scale of insect cell expansion (large shakers and spinner vessels)
- Fish cell culture and cell banking (plates and T vessels)
- Mouse ES cell culture and cell banking
- Human iPS cell culture and cell banking
- Establishment of stable cell line by plasmids transfection
- Mycoplasma testing, RADIL testing, STR profiling and karyotyping
Special projects
- Mouse intestinal organoids derivation from mouse intestinal tissue
- Human cerebral organoids (mini-brain) derivation from human iPSCs
- Primary cell line derivation
- Mouse ES and human iPSC mutant cell line establishment by gene editing such as CRISPR, homologous recombination etc.
- Lentivirus production and transduction for stable cell line establishment
- Lentivirus production and transduction for customized genome study
- CRISRPi and CRISPRa genome screening
- Other customized projects on tissue culture
Equipment utilized
- Level II Biological safety cabinet (17)
- Beckman Coulter Vi-Cell XR
- Sanyo MCO-20A/C incubators (20)
- Bellco Roller Bottle incubators (3)
- Leica DMIL microscopes (2)
- Lecia DMIL LED microscope
- Eppendorf Multiporator
- Beckman Allegra 6R centrifuge
- Beckman Allegra X-15R centrifuge
- Labnet Multigene thermocycler
- Innova 2100 and 2300 shaking platforms (8)
- Bellco Magnetic Stirrers (16)
- Powers Scientific refrigerated incubator
- Precision refrigerated incubators (2)
- Incucyte
- Echo
Software & Computing
Incucyte live cell confluency, cell growth curve and fluorescence percentage analysis after transfection or transduction.
Organoids
The Cells, Tissues, and Organoids team can grow miniature organoids including intestines and brains. From a single cell, when given the proper differentiation instructions, these “organs” develop in culture and are functional tools to explore complex structure and genetics.
Team Contact
Chongbei Zhao
Director, Cellular, Tissue, and Molecular Biology
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Chongbei Zhao, originally from Henan Province, China, graduated from Zhengzhou University with an M.D. She earned her Ph.D. in veterinary pathobiology from the University of Missouri, Columbia and followed that with a two-year Science Manager Certification from the University of Kansas. Zhao joined the Stowers Institute in 2012 as a Researcher Coordinator. In 2019, she became Head of Cells, Tissues, and Organoids Center and the next year took over management of Media Preparation. In 2023, Zhao is now leading Genome Engineering, serving as Head of three Technology Centers at the Institute. In 2024, Zhao was appointed Director of Cellular, Tissue, and Molecular Biology. With nearly 20 years’ experience in cell biology, including 3D organoid culture, primary cell culture, virus work, and gene editing, Zhao collaborates with Stowers researchers to develop new projects and technologies in the field of cell biology.
News from the lab
News
03 August 2018
New research opens door to expanding stem cells available for transplants
Researchers from Stowers and collaborators have identified a way to expand blood-forming, adult stem cells from human umbilical cord blood (hUCB).
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News
01 October 2017
Uncharted territory: navigating new biological terrain with teamwork and technology
Deep inside cells, biologists are mapping new structures and molecular interactions, with unprecedented precision
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