CIRM
UCI - CIRM SRL Program
Services
3BOC
3D Bioengineering & Organoid Core
iPSC · CRISPR
iPSC / CRISPR Core
HDSA
High-Dimensional & Spatial Analysis Core
FTC
Foundational Technology Core
Our Services
🌐 3D Bioengineering & Organoid Core (3BOC)
- Bioprinting — precision extrusion of cell-laden bioinks into defined 2D and 3D patterns
- High-throughput photopatterning via PRIMO system
- Micropatterning for controlled cell placement and tissue mimicry
- 3D tissue-engineered construct and scaffold fabrication
- Multi-cellular organoid assembly and validation
- Organoid protocol optimization for external cell lines
- Organoid characterization and quality validation
🧬 iPSC / CRISPR Core
- Integration-free iPSC reprogramming
- Human fibroblasts
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
- Stem cell characterization and quality control
- Whole genome sequencing-based genomic stability assay
- Immunocytochemistry for pluripotency markers (OCT4, SSEA4)
- Trilineage differentiation assay
- Mycoplasma testing
- iPSC banking and long-term cryopreservation
- CRISPR gene knockout
- Safe harbor locus engineering (e.g. AAVS1 site)
- Inducible knockout, CRISPR activation / inhibition
- Vector / gRNA design & cloning
🔬 High-Dimensional & Spatial Analysis (HDSA) Core
- Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) — full pipeline: panel design → tissue staining → Hyperion scanning → Visiopharm analysis
- CyTOF — high-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry
- Spatial transcriptomics with custom panel design support
- Protein-level expression and spatial localization of neuronal and immune cell populations
- Panel design consultation and experimental setup guidance
- Training on data analysis and Visiopharm platform
⚙️ Foundational Technology Core
- Flow cytometry and high-speed cell sorting (automated magnetic sorting)
- Confocal and widefield microscopy — Zeiss LSM 900 Airyscan 2, Olympus FV3000
- Dissection and stereo microscopy
- Molecular imagers, plate readers, spectrophotometers, and fluorometers
- Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) systems
- Multi-electrode array (MEA) systems
- X-ray irradiation systems and hypoxia workstations
- Tissue culture hoods and CO₂ incubators
- Comprehensive training materials, videos, protocols, and competency assessments
Available iPSC Lines
The iPSC/CRISPR Core maintains an expanding series of characterized human pluripotent stem cell lines of diverse genetic backgrounds. We are actively generating additional lines to better reflect the diversity of California's population. (coming soon)
Cores Working in Synergy
The four cores and training opportunities of the SRL bring synergies through collaboration to develop pipelines for in vitro human stem cell modeling. In one illustrative project, brain organoids were developed using the 3BOC and iPSC/CRISPR cores, then analyzed via the HDSA core's imaging mass cytometry — yielding novel insights not possible using traditional approaches.
🧬 iPSC / CRISPR Cell Line Generation
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🌐 3D Bioengineering Organoid Development
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🔬 HDSA Core IMC Deep Analysis
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💡 Novel Insights Discovery & Publication
Acknowledgements
The UCI CIRM SRL is supported by CIRM grant INFR6.2-15368Acknowledgements
If core resources were used to generate data for presentations and publications, please acknowledge the CIRM grant (INFR6.2-15368). An example line could be, “The SCRC ______ core is funded in part through California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant INFR6.2-15368.”
Individual acknowledgements – SCRC staff that provided individual research support for the research contained in the manuscript should be acknowledged by name. This includes paid support included in service recharges (e.g. operator assisted instrument use) that was essential to completion of the study. Contributions beyond what is provided by service recharges should be considered for co-authorships.
Recommendations for acknowledgements/authorships for SCRC staff in manuscripts
SCRC core lab staff contribute to projects well beyond what is covered in recharges. It is appropriate and customary to acknowledge SCRC core lab staff for their contributions, and if the contributions are significant, to include SCRC core lab staff as co-authors in manuscripts. Many SCRC core lab staff receive promotions based in part on their productivity, in which authorships and/or acknowledgements are a key component.
SCRC core lab staff contribute to projects well beyond what is covered in recharges. It is appropriate and customary to acknowledge SCRC core lab staff for their contributions, and if the contributions are significant, to include SCRC core lab staff as co-authors in manuscripts. Many SCRC core lab staff receive promotions based in part on their productivity, in which authorships and/or acknowledgements are a key component.