Core Facilities

Every Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) trial integrates a set of genetic, cellular and immunological studies that are designed to explore the underlying mechanisms of tolerance and disease. They help to identify new clinical phenotypes by stratifying individuals in the clinical trials, and to discover new biomarkers that may illuminate drug targets or be useful for personalizing therapy. To accomplish this, the ITN has developed the following core laboratories and facilities that utilize state-of-the-art and custom-made assays.

Alloantibody and Flow Crossmatch Core

Principal Investigator:
Robert Bray, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

This core provides state-of-the-art testing for HLA antibodies.

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Central Cell Isolation Core

Principal Investigator:
Michael Sheldon, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ

The Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository serves as the Immune Tolerance Network's Central Cell Isolation Facility.

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Cytokine Assessment Core

Principal Investigator:
Scott Van Arsdell, Aushon BioSystems, Billerica, MA

Aushon BioSystems operates a CLIA certified testing laboratory in Billerica, MA and provides a comprehensive list of 300 validated protein biomarker assays.

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DNA Methylation Core

Principal Investigator:
Ulrich Hoffmeuller, Epiontis, Berlin, Germany

Epigenetic analysis of immune cells is performed at Epiontis GmbH, a biotechnology company located in Berlin, Germany.

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DNA Sequencing Core

Principal Investigator:
Harlan Robins, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Seattle, WA

Adaptive Biotechnologies performs immune profiling of T cell and B cell receptors using ImmunoSEQ technology.

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Flow Cytometry Core

Principal Investigator:
Paul Wallace, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY

The Department of Flow & Image Cytometry at Roswell Park Cancer Institute serves as a core facility for the Immune Tolerance Network, providing comprehensive flow cytometric immunophenotyping services.

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Gene Microarray Core

Principal Investigator:
Steve McPhail, Expression Analysis, Inc., Durham, NC

The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) has established a microarray core designed to evaluate global patterns of gene expression using the Affymetrix GeneChip array technology.

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Hepatitus A Titer Assessment Core

Principal Investigator:
Lutz Prizdun, Mediagnost, Reutlingen, Germany

Mediagnost Anti-HAV IgG ELISA E10 is well suited to show immunity to hepatitis A virus.

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HLA-Typing Core

Principal Investigator:
Daniel Cook, UCSF, San Francisco, CA

The primary goal of the HLA Typing Core is to provide sequence level typing using DNA collected from participants in ITN trials.

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Immunological Diagnostic Testing Core

Principal Investigator:
Pradip Manna, ViracorIBT, Lee's Summit, MO

ViracorIBT is a CLIA-certified, molecular and immunological diagnostics laboratory with approximately 16,000 sq. ft. of laboratory space located in Lee’s Summit, MO (within the Kansas City metropolitan area).

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MHC-Peptide Multimer Core

Principal Investigator:
Gerald Nepom, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA

New MHC Class II tetramer reagents and staining procedures are being developed in facilities at Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, WA.

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Tissue Pathology Core at UPMC

Principal Investigator:
Anthony Demetris, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

The Division of Transplantation Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center offers a comprehensive consultation service in solid organ transplantation pathology to community and university based physicians.

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Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibody Core

Principal Investigator:
Liping Yu, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO

The Immune Tolerance Network Autoantibody Core analyzes patient serum for the presence of autoantibodies using semi-automated, high-throughput radioassays.

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Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibody Core

Principal Investigator:
Robert Allan, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

The University of Florida, Pathology Laboratory, and Endocrine Autoantibody Laboratory performs islet cell autoantibody testing for the Immune Tolerance Network.

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