This multiuser-shared research facility is available to all Salk researchers performing human stem cell work. Those new to hES cell culture will benefit from the hands on training provided by the Core personnel. Those with experience culturing these cells will benefit from the fully equipped and quality tested materials made available.

Access:

The Stem Cell Core Facility is available to researchers 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Access to the facility must be arranged in advance and approved by the Core Director.

ESCRO Approvals, ethics training and MTAs:

Any research involving human embryonic stem cells at the Institute will require:
1) An ESCRO approved protocol
2) Ethics training for the researchers and PI involved with the experiments.

Please consult the ESCRO Website to get information about fulfilling these requirements. The requirements for approval will vary depending on the research project. The Core Director or staff can assist new researchers with the process of filling for ESCRO protocols. For training purposes, new investigators can begin working under the existing stem cell culture techniques training protocol. However, as the investigator(s) develop their own research project, separate ESCRO approval must be obtained. Salk researchers working in the STEM Core are covered under the existing MTAs for the cell lines provided. Should an investigator want to culture one of these cell lines in their own lab, then a separate MTA would need to be executed.