Facilities

The UC Santa Barbara Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering

A shared laboratory was established free of federal funding to allow research on all stem cell lines. Donations from biotechnology companies and private individuals allowed acquisition of material and equipment to establish the laboratory. The renovation of this facility, funded by a $2.2 million grant from CIRM, is currently underway.

Current Core Services of the Facilities Include

Tissue culture: For human embryonic stem cell-specific techniques including maintenance, expansion, and quality control testing of cell lines.
Training: One-on-one training to learn basic human embryonic stem cell culture techniques
Additional services from affiliated facilities:
- Microscopy: The integrated microscopy facility provides training and access to epifluorescent, confocal, and electron microscopy. For more information, visit the Integrated Microscopy Facility website.
- Cell sorting: Sorting cells by fluorescent labels. Training and access to flow cytometer, fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), and microfluidic sorting is available.
- Genomic and Proteomic Analysis

Renovations

The renovated shared laboratory will provide access to state-of-the-art stem cell culture facilities that will promote the expansion of stem cell research at UCSB and at neighboring institutions in California's central coast area. Clientele will include researchers in numerous Departments and Institutes at UCSB, and researchers from The Burnham Institute for Medical Research at UCSB, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The renovations will generate approximately 1400 square feet of state of the art laboratory space. It will be organized with a Multi-User Laboratory containing four self-contained workstations and an adjacent Support Laboratory for the maintenance of master cell stocks, derivation of new stem cell lines, and specialized experimental procedures. A dedicated microscopy unit, an office area, and space for ancillary equipment will also be available. Approximate date of completion is 2009.

The day-to-day operations of the laboratory are overseen by the Laboratory Director, Dr. Sherry Hikita, an expert in stem cell biology and macular degeneration. Dr. Hikita and staff have received training in human embryonic stem cell culture at Stanford University, the Burnham Institute, and the WiCell Institute.