The three laboratories are Omics Core, Genomics Core and Deep Phenotyping Core while a fourth one, Clinical Research Centre, is scheduled to be opened later this year.
“The new laboratories are equipped with some of the most advanced equipment for different types of research and Sidra's research facilities are world class with most of them being very unique," acting chief research officer Dr Ena Wang explained.
Sidra’s research core capabilities and capacity are well advanced so as to meet both national and international needs with the ultimate goal of supporting the advancement of healthcare delivery in Qatar,” observed Omics Core Lab technologist Lee Silcock.
The facility can conduct the extraction of DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic Acid) / RNA (Ribo Nucleic Acid) from a range of sample types including saliva and blood samples, according to Nicola James, another technologist at the Omics Core lab.
Technologies are in place for DNA genotyping, molecular karyotyping, gene expression, single cell and Sanger sequencing as well as the associated capabilities for data analysis.
The Omics core includes several platforms for automated DNA and RNA extraction, genotyping, gene expression, and targeted sequencing among others. The facility supports programmes and projects internally at Sidra and also at a national and international level. It supports the Qatar Genome Programme by preparing and quality checking samples ahead of sequencing, whilst also providing core services for principal investigators performing a wide range of research projects. Nanostring technology used in the lab is the only one in the region.
Wei Liu, director of Clinical Genomic Core said that the Genomic Core lab handles sequencing of DNA extraction samples. “The lab can support internal clinical requests internally but also again at a national and international level. At Sidra level, it can support clinical whole genomes, and clinical sequencing testing requests. At a national level, it provides sequencing support for Qatar Genome Project,” explained, Liu.
“It has technologies like the Illumina HiSeq X Ten and other Next Generation Sequencing platforms. The Illumina HiSeq X Ten, was a key technology that was used to support the Qatar National Genome Programme to help sequence the 3,000 samples for Phase one of the programme. We have 10 sequencers in the Genomic Core lab that has the capability to sequence up to 18,000 samples a year,” Liu added.
Deep Phenotyping Core lab possesses technologies some of which are unique to the whole Middle East and North Africa region, according to Jean Charles Grivel, director of the lab, which has a state-of-the-art flow cytometry by providing 28 colours immuno-phenotyping. It has a cytometer that is able to detect small extracellular vesicles and viruses.
The lab also features a unique confocal microscope with super resolution and dual photon imaging. In addition to allowing the simultaneous imaging of up to 10 colours, this microscope allows deep tissue imaging in live animals as well as the imaging of sub-microscopic vesicles.
Jean Charles Grivel explaining the functions of confocal microscope. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed.
The three core research laboratories that are operational at Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) have several features and services quite unique not only in Qatar but in the entire region, a senior official disclosed.
