Mays Cancer Center Shared Resources

These Shared Resources provide state-of-the-art technology and expertise to members of the Cancer Development and Progression (CDP), Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics (EDT) and Population Science and Prevention (PSP) programs at substantial cost-savings, operating and adhering to the best scientific and financial practices.

There are six Mays Cancer Center Shared Resources to support research activities. They are listed as follows:

1. Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (BBSR)
2. Drug Discovery (DDSR)
3. Flow Cytometry (FCSR)
4. Next Generation Sequencing (NGSSR)
5. Optical Imaging (OISR)
6. Structural Biology (SBSR)

Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource (BBSR)

Director: Yidong Chen, PhD
Co-director: Jonathan Gelfond, MD, PhD

The Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource (BBSR) provides consolidated biostatistical and bioinformatics support and expertise; state-of-the-art data science tools for design and development of basic, clinical and population-based studies; and data-focused education and training to Mays Cancer Center members and trainees. The BBSR emphasizes support of new research investigations. Request a meeting for a new project at the following link: online request form.

Find out more about the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource.

Drug Discovery Shared Resource (DDSR)

Director: Daohong Zhou, MD
Co-directors: Yaxia Yuan, PhD and Sajid Khan, PhD

The Drug Discovery Shared Resource (DDSR) provides advanced capabilities to Mays Cancer Center investigators for identifying and validating new cancer targets and discovering and developing novel targeted cancer therapeutics. The DDSR consists of the Target Discovery Core (TDC), Computer-Aided Drug Discovery Core (CADD), and High Throughput Screening Core (HTS). Specifically, the DDSR has the ability to identify and validate new cancer drug targets using RNAi screening and pooled and arrayed CRISPR knockout screening; and discover novel small molecule anticancer drug candidates including small molecule inhibitors (SMIs), small molecule degraders (SMDs), molecular glues (MGs), and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) through virtual screening, high throughput screening (HTS), artificial intelligence (AI)-based analog searching, and medicinal chemistry. The DDSR continuously works closely with the SBSR to use X-ray crystallography (XRC), CryoEM, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to gain more insights into the interactions of hits/leads identified by the DDSR with their targets to guide structure-based drug design and modification to rapidly optimize the hits/leads for preclinical and clinical development. The DDSR makes critical contributions to the Mays Cancer Center’s overarching mission to decrease the burden of cancer by providing a comprehensive target validation and drug discovery platform that integrates structural biology and molecular phenotypes to expand knowledge on cancer etiology, discover cancer-relevant targets and identify potential therapeutics.

Find out more about the Drug Discovery Shared Resource.[DK1] [LS2] [DZ3] 

Flow Cytometry Shared Resource (FCSR)

Director: Yue Li, PhD
Scientific Director: Michael Berton, PhD

The Flow Cytometry Shared Resource (FCSR) provides high-throughput, high-parameter single-cell analysis and cell sorting using state-of-the-art instruments for Mays Cancer Center members. FCSR services include high-parameter cell analysis and cell sorting of subpopulations, single-cell cloning and sorting for downstream genomics/transcriptomics/proteomics, and expert consultation in experimental design and data analysis. The recent acquisition of a spectral imaging cell sorter also enables analysis and purification of cells based on cell morphology and spatial characteristics of biomarkers, as well as analysis of processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, nuclear translocation, and protein-protein colocalization. 

Find out more about the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource. 

Next Generation Sequencing Shared Resource (NGSSR)

Director: Zhao Lai, PhD

The Next Generation Sequencing Shared Resource (NGSSR) provides Mays Cancer Center investigators with comprehensive, cutting-edge genomics technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), single-cell analysis, and spatial transcriptomics. These powerful platforms enable the characterization of nucleotide sequence alterations, DNA copy number variations, gene expression changes, chromatin modifications, and chromosomal structural variations, as well as the identification of distinct cell types and the study of cell–cell interactions and communication networks that contribute to cancer complexity and heterogeneity.

The NGSSR supports researchers across all three scientific programs of the Mays Cancer Center, offering a broad range of sequencing and single-cell applications. Available services include library preparation, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), whole-exome sequencing (WES), RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, small RNA-seq, targeted capture sequencing, CRISPR screening, 16S metagenomics, single-cell multiomics, and spatial transcriptomic profiling.

Find out more about the Next Generation Sequencing Shared Resource. 

Optical Imaging Shared Resource (OISR)

Director: Exing Wang, PhD 
Co-director: James Lechleiter, PhD

The Optical Imaging Shared Resource provides Mays Cancer Center investigators with comprehensive, state-of-the-art support across the full spectrum of optical imaging from super-resolution imaging of single molecules to whole-animal visualization. Fluorescence microscopy remains an essential technique for detecting cellular structures using diverse probes, including antibodies, dyes, and fluorescently tagged proteins. Dynamic physiologic processes are also central to cancer research and are well supported by OISR instrumentation and expertise. The OISR offers individualized, hands-on training; assistance with instrument operation and analysis; consultation on experimental design and sample preparation; and supporting letters for grant applications. Its advanced resources include confocal and multiphoton microscopes, super-resolution, light-sheet systems, preclinical imaging, and dedicated workstations with specialized image-analysis software.

Find out more about the Optical Imaging Shared Resource.

Structural Biology Shared Resource (SBSR)

Director: Shaun Olsen, PhD
Co-director: Elizabeth Wasmuth, PhD

The Structural Biology Shared Resource (SBSR) provides Mays Cancer Center investigators with advanced tools to study the atomic-level structures of molecules relevant to cancer research and their interactions with other macromolecules, such as ligands. These capabilities support the identification of small molecules that specifically target cancer-associated proteins. The SBSR offers comprehensive services, including protein production in bacterial, insect, and mammalian cells, as well as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

Find out more about the Structural Biology Shared Resource.