Clinical Translational Science Shared Resource
Please remember to cite the Shared Resources!
Research reported in this publication was supported by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health under grant number P30 CA016058.
We thank the XX Shared Resource at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH for (XX)
The Clinical Translational Science Shared Resource (CTSSR) provides state-of-the-art preclinical, clinical, and translational research support services to investigators to facilitate the monitoring of clinical trials and the development of novel cellular and immune-based therapies. CTSSR facilitates the storage and distribution of comprehensively annotated, high-quality biospecimens and their derivatives, and provides technical and project management services to OSU members and collaborators.
This resource works closely with clinical and translational scientists in the design and management of studies and provides guidance related to assay development and data analysis. The CTSSR serves as a central repository for specimens collected from patients on trials and is responsible for processing the samples for any number of downstream analyses. In addition to developing novel assays, the CTSSR partners with other OSUCCC shared resources to utilize available technologies such as next-generation sequencing, RNA expression analysis and proteomics. In these situations, the CTSSR is responsible for obtaining and preparing the patient samples for downstream analyses and then collects and analyzes the data.
240 Biomedical Research Tower
460 W. 12th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614-366-9041
Laura Bao, PhD, Research Senior Associate, earned her Bachelor of Medical Science degree and PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry, followed by postdoctoral training in biochemistry, molecular biology, cancer pathology, and cancer biology. As a research scientist, she has managed and conducted multiple research projects and has extensive experience in clinical studies, precision oncology, immunotherapy, cancer biomarker development, and translational medicine. Dr. Bao has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles. She joined the CTSSR in February 2023, where she primarily focuses on clinical and translational research, biomarker discovery, and molecular mechanism studies. (email: bao.374@osu.edu )
Frank Guo, MD, PhD, Senior Research Associate, joined the CTSSR in December 2024. He earned his Bachelor of Medical Science degree and PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, followed by postdoctoral training in cancer biology and bioinformatics. Dr. Guo has more than ten years of research experience in clinical and translational science, with expertise spanning cancer biology, immunology, and immuno-oncology. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Guo specializes in biostatistics and bioinformatics analyses, including next-generation sequencing and proteomics data. He also has extensive hands-on experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques, such as gene editing and expression manipulation (e.g., plasmid construction), immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence, digital pathology and imaging, conventional PCR, digital droplet PCR, immunoblotting, Southern blotting, 5′- and 3′-RACE, site-directed mutagenesis, homology-dependent targeted trapping, immune assays, and drug screening. (email: guo.2279 @osu.edu)
Laboratory Services (back to top)
- Clinical Sample Service: Receiving, processing (PBMC, plasma, serum, and buffy coat isolation), storage and distribution.
- Nucleic Acid and Protein extraction: DNA, RNA, and protein extraction from blood, cells, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues and fresh or frozen tissues (Promega Maxwell RSC automated extraction, or manual extraction).
- Liquid Biopsy Processing: Isolation and purification of cfDNA, ctDNA, and miRNA from plasma, serum, urine, ascites, saliva, and other body fluids.
- Protein-Based Analysis: Protein/cytokines quantitation, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC) on cells, immunofluorescence staining (IF).
- Biomarker Discovery and Validation: The Luminex 200 Platform enables high-throughput, multiplexed profiling and quantitation of protein and RNA biomarkers. This technology provides rapid and accurate analysis across a wide range of sample types, including fresh or frozen tissues, whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, ascites, saliva, other body fluids, cultured cells and supernatants, bacteria, viruses, and FFPE tissues. Up to 100 analytes can be measured simultaneously within a single well of a microtiter plate.
- Metabolism Studies: Agilent Seahorse XFe24 Analyzer provides real-time, label-free measurement of mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic activity in live cells and ex-vivo tissues using a solid-state sensor cartridge in a 24-well microplate format. Key parameters such as oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) can be quantified. The system allows injection of up to four test compounds or drugs into each well during kinetic experiments. This technology links cellular metabolic function with genomic and proteomic data, supporting research in obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders, cancer, immunology, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction, experimental therapeutics, and toxicity studies.
- In vitro models:
- Cell Culture: 2D and 3D culture systems (Spheroids and Organoids), maintenance, and cryopreservation.
- Drug Efficacy Evaluation: Evaluation of compound efficacy, IC50/EC50 determination, dose response profiling, and synergistic interaction studies.
- Pilot and Preliminary Studies: Generation of feasibility data for hypothesis testing and grant preparation.
- Gene Expression Manipulation: CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi, and overexpression systems; Functional studies to dissect molecular mechanisms of action and pathway dynamics.
- Provide wet-lab infrastructure and startup research support for clinical investigators and new/early-career investigators.
- Develop novel and customized assays to support research needs.
Consultation Services (back to top)
- Project Design and Management:
- Protocol review and development
- Hypothesis development and grant application preparation
- Manuscript preparation
- Budget development
- Creation of laboratory manuals, SOPs, and validation documents
- Advanced Statistical Analysis, including integrative data analysis for correlative studies, survival and outcome analyses, and customized statistics.
- Education and Training: training for undergraduate students, technicians, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and clinical fellows.
- Collaboration and Resource Identification: Planning and facilitating internal and external collaborations planning and identifying resources to support clinical trials and project execution.
Additional services can be customized and provided based on investigators’ needs. The CTSSR is committed to maximizing the cost-effectiveness of each project by partnering with other shared resources across the OSU campus to avoid service redundancies and to seamlessly integrate shared resource capabilities for efficient project execution and time management.
Recent Publications Supported by the CTSSR
Cancer Res. 2024 Aug 26;84(22):3848–3863. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-23-4099
Cell Rep Med. 2024 Sep 4;5(9):101706. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101706
Cancer Res. 2024 Sep 17;84(23):4049–4065. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-0984
Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Jun 3;31(11):2115-2123. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-3964
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2025 Jul 8;122(28):e2424367122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2424367122
Click here for full list of services and fees
Please remember to cite the Shared Resources!
Research reported in this publication was supported by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the National Institutes of Health under grant number P30 CA016058.
We thank the XX Shared Resource at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH for (XX)