Facilities and Resources
SickKids Research Institute Core Facilities & Resources
In order to provide for the wide array of infrastructure requirements of our research community, we are home to a series of specialized scientific core facilities. Each of these facilities provides technical expertise and services as well as access to state-of-the art equipment to our researchers on a cost recovery basis.
For more information on these facilities and the variety of services that are available, click 'Services for Research':
Advanced Bioimaging Centre
The Advanced Bioimaging Centre offers state-of-the-art equipment and technical expertise in a user-friendly environment. This joint venture between SickKids and Mount Sinai Hospital provides microscopy services to scientists at SickKids, Mount Sinai, the University of Toronto and the scientific community at large.
Advanced Protein Technology Centre (APTC)
The APTC ‘bridges the gap between gene and biology’ by providing a wide range of protein analysis services, including amino acid analysis, peptide sequencing, peptide synthesis and mass spectrometry. The APTC’s mandate is to provide tools and consistent high quality services to allow Canadian researchers to competitively conduct protein biochemical research.
Analytical Facility for Bioactive Molecules
The Analytical Facility offers a range of services for quantitative and qualitative analysis of biological samples to SickKids and the greater scientific community.
Biostatistics, Design and Analysis (BDA)
The BDA core facility provides consultation in the areas of study feasibility, design and methodology, statistical analysis and data management (database development and data entry). The staff provides study planning assistance to ensure the research question can be answered from a statistical point of view, can assist with statistical analysis, and can advise on selection of statistical software. They can also assist with all aspects of database management. The BDA was previously the Clinical Research Support Unit (CRSU) and is mandated by the Child Health Evaluative Sciences Program to ensure the highest quality of clinical research support.
The Canadian Mouse Mutant Respiratory (CMMR)
The CMMR is a central repository for the cryopreservation and archiving of mutant mouse lines as spermatozoa, embryos and tissues in various formats (fixed, embedded and glass-slide mounted). The CMMR is also the repository and distribution centre for mutant mouse embryonic stem cells from the North American Conditional Mouse Mutagenesis project (NorCOMM). Located at the Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics (TCP), the CMMR forms part of a full-service mouse model research centre.
The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG)
TCAG provides genomics services to scientists worldwide. The core is comprised of a cluster of facilities that provide resources, technologies and expertise essential for gene-based disease research and other basic and applied genetic and genomic investigations. Their facilities provide state-of-the-art services in the following areas: DNA Sequencing/Synthesis; Microarray Analysis; Cytogenomics and Genome Resources; Genetic Analysis; Statistical Analysis; Biobanking and databases. For more information please visit the TCAG website.
The Centre for Computational Biology (CCB)
The CCB provides essential bioinformatics and information management services to SickKids Research Institute and to the global research community. Their services include application development, computing resources, bioinformatics consulting and databases as well as supercomputing services. CCB also hosts the Centre for Computational Biology High Performance Facility (CCBHPF), which supports cutting-edge research by providing high-performance computing access, up-to-date biological datasets and applications and consultative expertise to academic and private-sector clients. For more information please visit the CCB website.
The Clinical Research Centre (CRC)
The CRC is dedicated to providing safe and accessible facilities for physiological patient-based research. These services are offered to SickKids research personnel and clinical researchers from other hospitals.
The Embryonic Stem Cell Facility (ESCF)
The ESCF provides reliable, quality technical service and support for the maintenance of embryonic stem cell lines and generation of targeted cell lines. The ESCF provides researchers with materials, training and technical assistance to ensure their success.
Flow Cytometry Facility (FCF)
The joint SickKids/UHN Flow Cytometry facility, located in the TMDT, provides access to analytical flow cytometers and high-speed cell sorters. FCF staff operate and maintain the analytical cytometers and cell sorters, assist researchers in protocol selection and development, and will train students, post-doctoral fellows and technologists how to operate the analytical cytometers and use the data analysis software. For more information please visit the FCF website.
Focus in Synthetic Chemistry (FISC)
Launched in 2008, FISC provides researchers within SickKids Research Institute with chemical synthetic expertise to develop and improve small molecule modulators of biological systems. These syntheses are targeted to generate molecules which can function with a living system.
Imaging Facility
The Imaging Facility provides a full range of biological imaging solutions for life sciences research. The facility contains a vast array of the latest technologies in biological imaging, which are made available to both academia and industry on a cost recovery basis. They also provide (mandatory) training on their full range of acquisition, accessory and analysis systems. For more information please visit the Imaging Facility website.
Liquid Nitrogen Storage Facilities
The Liquid Nitrogen Storage Facility provides space for cells and tissues in liquid nitrogen freezers within a carefully controlled environment. In addition, cold room/warm room decontamination and maintenance services. These services are provided exclusively to SickKids researchers.
Monoclonal Antibody Facility
The Monoclonal Antibody Facility provides custom hybridoma production and antibody purification to the Canadian research community. Specific services include: hybridoma generation from peptides or proteins supplied by the customer; rescue and subcloning of existing hybridoma cell lines; monoclonal and polyclonal antibody purification; isotyping of hybridoma cell lines; large scale production of existing cell lines; and the supply of epitope-tag mouse monoclonal antibodies for research purposes.
Research Information Technology Facility (Research IT)
The mission of Research IT is to foster research at SickKids through the provision of core computing resources, services and infrastructure. Our guiding principle is service excellence through industry best practices, teamwork and feedback from the research community.
Research MRI Facility
The research 1.5 Tesla MRI facility provides a wide range of human-imaging and animal-imaging capabilities to Toronto-area scientists. The site is staffed with two full-time research MR technologists.
Research Technical Support Services (RTSS)
The RTSS provides essential repair, maintenance and calibration services to ensure that equipment functions optimally. The RTSS also offers custom design services including the modification and manufacturing of different non-standard tools, design and fabrication of plexiglass shields, boxes, trays and platforms and device interfacing. These services are provided exclusively to research and lab equipment owned and operated at SickKids.
Signalling Identification Network (SIDNET)
The SIDNET facility provides the academic community access to a wide variety of automation platforms, high-throughput and high-content technologies for assay development and screening projects which otherwise may be unavailable through traditional grant support. A variety of in vivo cell based screening approaches to identify the role of specific genes and gene families in cell signalling pathways and networks are available utilizing SIDNET’s extensive clone archive of expression-ready cDNA and shRNA. SIDNET staff assist in the development of custom assays and automation protocols for the academic research community in a cooperative and interactive environment.
Sterilizing and Glassware Processing
This facility provides the highest standard of sterilization, glassware and ultrapure water services exclusively to SickKids researchers and staff.
Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics/The Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe)
The Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics (TCP)/Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe) is a state of the art facility enabling ground-breaking research with expertise in mouse generation, breeding and maintenance, phenocombines digital imaging technologies for the characterization of mouse models of human disease and phenotype discovery. The result of an innovative collaboration between Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, the University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, the TCP provides research support for researchers from member institutions, throughout Ontario and around the world. For more information please visit the Mouse Imaging Centre website.
TCP Transgenic Core (TCP Tg Core)
TCP is a state-of-the-art facility enabling ground-breaking research with expertise in mouse generation, breeding and maintenance, phenotypic analysis, pathology and cryopreservation. The result of an innovative collaboration among Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children, the University Health Network and the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, the TCP provides research support for researchers from member institutions, throughout Ontario and around the world.