Biotechnology Facilities

The Biochemistry and Biotechnology Facility (BBF) makes available to Fox Chase investigators five state-of-the-art services that are connected to each other in research applications. Through BBF, translational research projects gain instant access to equipment, manpower, and expertise in cutting edge technologies and new investigators can quickly get up to speed.

The DNA Sequencing Facility (DSF) provides Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) investigators with computer-readable sequences of their DNA templates in a timely and cost-effective manner.  

This facility provides support to investigators to pursue translational research projects by offering assay services and high throughput screening instrumentation and reagents.   The facility provides support for assay development, screen execution and secondary screening assays.  

The Instrument Shop is centrally located in room 182 of the Reimann Building and available to support the varied and diverse needs of all the clinical and scientific research staff and programs. The equipment in the Facility consists of: milling machines, band saw, lathes, drill press, power and foot shears, box brake, notcher, one-ton arbor press, spot welder, belt sanders welder and a dry sand blaster. There is also a full complement of hand tools and related equipment to support the service.

The Molecular Modeling Facility provides state-of-the-art services in protein sequence analysis and structure prediction to FCCC investigators. These services include database search, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic trees, secondary structure prediction, transmembrane, coiled-coil and disordered region prediction, homology modeling of single proteins and complexes, protein-protein and protein-ligand docking, and ligand design.

The facility houses two fume hoods that provide proper ventilation of hazardous organic chemicals. The facility contains the following equipment: Waters Delta Prep 3000 preparative chromatography system, Nicolet 210 FT infrared spectrometer and the usual equipment and glassware for carrying out organic syntheses. In addition, the facility has access to a Bruker Avance 300 WB NMR spectrometer for ¹³C, ³¹P and ¹H analyses.

The primary functions of the Spectroscopy Support Facility (SSF) are to maintain and operate instrumentation for high-field NMR and optical (fluorescence and circular dichroism) spectroscopy, to implement and develop methods for biomolecular studies, and to provide technical expertise and assistance to users.