[PHILADELPHIA, September 12, 2019] - A new core facility, the first on the east coast to exclusively focus on the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles, has opened at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet). The Extracellular Vesicle Core Facility at Penn Vet supports investigators with the necessary scientific and technical capabilities to define, standardize and monitor research in pathological and physiological conditions.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles released from all cell types and they play an integral role in intercellular communication. They are characteristic of the cells in which they came from, and are attractive targets for novel, non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
“The field of EV research is expanding at a swift pace. The growth of EV science has created a need for expertise to support reproducibility and rigor in the field,” said Dr. Rachel DeRita, Director of the Extracellular Vesicle Core Facility. “We are embedded in one of the nation’s most respected research institutions; we are rooted in the life sciences cluster of Greater Philadelphia, and we are centrally located within the Mid-Atlantic region. We just opened our doors and we are experiencing incredible demand. The science community is responding to the value that we provide. Our hope is to build bridges between the various scientific disciplines across Penn Vet and beyond.”
The EV Core Facility provides select or comprehensive services in the isolation, quantification and characterization of EVs using the following methods:
- Isolation using high-performance (SEC-HPLC) or gravity fed liquid chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and/or density gradient ultracentrifugation.
- Size and concentration characterization using resistive pulse sensing techniques (nCS1, Spectradyne, LLC).
- Immunophenotyping using nanoscale flow cytometry and/or chip array (ExoViewTM) processes.
The EV Core Facility also offers training programs, study design and budget consultation, and guidance on EV characterization to meet the ISEV’s MISEV standards.
“Research methods are constantly evolving, and as an academic institution we have a role to play to help researchers keep pace,” said Dr. Andrew Hoffman, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine and Principal of the EV Core Facility. “Offering a training component at the facility is critical in making sure scientific and clinical investigators have the skills they need to succeed in this growing field. Our intent is to create long-term institutional partnerships with investigators who are interested in partnering with us at each step along their scientific inquiry.”
For more information about the capabilities of Penn Vet’s EV Core Facility, go to www.vet.upenn.edu/extracellular-vesicle-core, or contact Dr. Rachel DeRita at rmderita@upenn.edu / 215-573-8215.