Overview of Services

The Biospecimen Extraction Resource (BER) provides a centralized laboratory for standardized, high-quality DNA, RNA and protein extraction from blood, tissues, saliva, cells, or other patient-derived biospecimens. Additional services include DNA and RNA quality check, Picogreen DNA quantitation and whole blood processing for plasma. Our facility is utilized by both lab-based investigators who want fast turn-around time for standardized and high-quality extractions or whole blood processing and non-lab-based investigators (majority are clinicians) who are in great need of the service of sample processing. High quality of DNA/RNA products is the foundation of successful cancer research such as analysis of genetic alterations, gene expression profiling and next generation sequencing. We work very closely with the Sequencing and Microarray Facility (SMF) and the DNA/RNA samples extracted from us can be submitted directly from our core to SMF across the hallway.

Leadership

Jian Gu, Ph.D.

Director
Office: Dan L. Duncan Building (CPB4.3616)
Phone: 713-792-8016
E-mail: jiangu@mdanderson.org

Haidee Chancoco

Research Laboratory Manager
Phone: 713-834-6173
E-mail: hchancoc@mdanderson.org

Location and hours of operation

Hours:
By appointment 

Location: 
The facility is located on the 15th floor of the Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, S15.8218.

Links and Resources 

1. BEF Website

Contacts