Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource

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ABSTRACT Overview: Immunotherapies are revolutionizing cancer treatments. The Human Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (HIMSR) provides basic and clinical science researchers with cutting-edge immune monitoring assays that are essential for the continued advancement of cancer immunotherapies. HIMSR's mission is to facilitate clinical and translational studies by dissecting immune-based mechanisms with diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including discovery of novel biomarkers. HIMSR partners with the research community to develop, test and implement new technologies for investigation of tumor immunology and assists translational researchers in selecting appropriate endpoints and ensures clinical samples are compatible with downstream immune-related assays. Services: Assays offered include immunophenotyping and functional characterization by flow and mass cytometry, multicolor fluorescence tissue imaging, multiplex cytokine analysis, and cellular assays (in vitro killing, proliferation, intracellular cytokines, etc). These assays are vital for understanding the response to recently developed cancer immunotherapies such as transfer of genetically modified T cells, vaccines, and various blocking and depleting antibodies. HIMSR collaborates with the Pathology Shared Resource (PSR) to provide clinical sample processing and currently supports 22 clinical studies. Reagents/Tools: To support investigators studying immune cell infiltrate in tumor microenvironments, HIMSR has acquired high parameter tissue imaging platforms, including the Vectra 3.0, Vectra Polaris, and Mutiplex Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI) systems. The SR has developed >150 different 7- and 9-color immunofluorescent panels for the Vectra platforms and is developing a 40 parameter panel for the MIBI. HIMSR collaborates with the Flow Cytometry SR (FCSR) by optimizing high parameter flow and mass cytometry panels, and preparing sample sets that are run on FCSR instruments by FCSR staff. HIMSR also acquired a multiplex protein array instrument to facilitate analysis of soluble factors like cytokines and chemokines. Consultation and Education: HIMSR personnel assist investigators in the design and optimization of customized flow, mass cytometry, and tissue imaging panels. They aid in the design of research endpoints for clinical trials, and work with other shared resources to ensure seamless access to all necessary technology. HIMSR hosts monthly user group meetings for investigators performing tissue imaging experiments and provides online training videos and workshops and remote access to image analysis software. Management: HIMSR is managed by the Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative (HI3) with oversight by the UCCC Associate Director for Basic Research. Use of Services: Since July 2018, HIMSR has collaborated with 110 investigators, 49% of whom were UCCC members, representing all four UCCC programs and resulting in 21 publications. Operating Budget: With this renewal CCSG funding is proposed at 7% of the annual operating budget with the remaining from user fees (56%) and institutional support (37%). Future Directions: Customized panels and new technology will be expanded as needed by the research community, including access to Nanostring nCounter molecular barcoding technology and TCR/BCR sequencing.