Diagnostic Development - Ontario Institute for Cancer Research

Research > Programs

Diagnostic Development

Introduction

What we do

The Diagnostic Development Program looks for new and more personalized ways to diagnose and treat cancer. We work with doctors and scientists across Ontario and around the world to improve people’s experiences with cancer.

Why we do it

When it comes to diagnosing and treating cancer, one size does not fit all. The current treatment options for many cancers only work for a limited number of patients, and it is sometimes unclear who will benefit from a certain treatment and who won’t. We are trying to understand why these differences exist so we can create more personalized cancer care that is tailored to a specific person and the biology of their tumour.

How we do it

We use an approach called “omics”, which looks at many different molecular features of a person. For example, genomics looks at a person’s DNA and RNA. Proteomics looks at the proteins a person produces from their DNA and RNA templates. Data from each of these, when compared in larger studies, can help find the best course of treatment for a person. We look for clues in this data, known as ‘markers’, that can add to and improve decisions about a cancer patient’s treatment . We are also looking at new ways to collect omics data from samples of blood, urine and tumours, which are less invasive than taking tissue samples.

Diagnostic Development Summary

Leadership

Dr. Jane Bayani

Dr. Melanie Spears

Inquiries

diagnostic.development
@oicr.on.ca

The Diagnostic Development Program drives the implementation of precision medicine through biomarker discovery and validation and the development of assays to guide personalized diagnosis and treatment. A key component of our mission is to extend support and expertise to the cancer research community through active collaborations across Ontario and beyond.

The program’s goals are to :

Develop novel diagnostic assays
Develop new technologies to accelerate diagnostic development in partnership with local researchers and diagnosticians
Partner with OICR and Ontario researchers to enhance diagnostic assay development

Leadership

Dr. Jane Bayani

Co-Director, Diagnostic Development

Dr. Melanie Spears

Co-Director, Diagnostic Development

Opportunities to Collaborate

OICR is committed to strengthening cancer research in Ontario through collaboration and broadening access to our technology infrastructure, expertise and resources. Please visit OICR’s Collaborative Research Resources directory for more opportunities to collaborate.

Collaborations on tissue-based research can benefit from the technology platforms currently available through the Diagnostic Development Program.

Collaborate with us

The Diagnostic Development Program operates in a dedicated laboratory suite for tissue handling, molecular biology, histopathology, next generation sequencing, and spatial proteomics with state-of-the-art instruments in support of the following key initiatives:

Spatial Proteomics, transcriptomics and digital pathology
Targeted methylation profiling
Approaches to alternative liquid biopsy fluids
New approaches to assess immune induction
Signature development for future diagnostic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics and proteomics)
Tissue handling protocol development

Programs Expertise and Capabilities

The Diagnostic Development Program is focused on the development and validation of objective clinical assays to improve therapeutic selection for early cancers. Alongside the program’s core deliverables, we support or have supported research in breast, prostate, ovarian, bladder, pancreatic, endometrial and brain cancers. We focus on tissue-based technologies using human samples in a variety of formats: from formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE), fresh-frozen (FF) and liquid tissues (bloods and urine).

We offer a range of services that cover/encompass from the start of tissue handling, derivatization, histology, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and downstream analysis, assisting with all aspects of a project.

Tissue Portal Services

With human tissues at the core of most clinical cancer research, we offer a breadth of fee-based services helping researchers to get the most out of their material through our team known as Tissue Portal. We offer the following services for FFPE, fresh frozen and liquid biopsy tissues:

Nucleic acid extractions (DNA and RNA)

Low-input extractions
Basic extractions
Dual extractions
High throughput capacity (Kingfisher Flex)

Histology

Macrodissection
Laser capture microdissection (Zeiss and Leica laser capture microdissection systems)
Tissue microarray construction
Sectioning (microtomes and cryostat)
Staining
Slide digitization (Aperio AT2)

Quality control and assurance

Nucleic acid quantification and qualification
End to end barcoding
Triple accredited lab space (CAP, CLIA, AC)

Correlative sciences biobanking

Laboratory manual design
Sample storage and tracking
Processing and distribution

Our protocols are compatible with next generation sequencing, immunohistochemistry, NanoString, DSP and other downstream assays.

Collaborative Research

OICR enables research by providing expertise, advice, and access to research services on a cost-recovery basis. In the focused areas of biomarker discovery and clinical translation, the Diagnostic Development Program has ongoing research projects and associated technologies in the areas of:

Genomic profiling

NanoString nCounter and IonTorrent NGS systems (Genexus and GeneStudio) for targeted sequencing assays
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Transcriptomic profiling

NanoString nCounter and IonTorrent NGS systems (Genexus and GeneStudio) for targeted sequencing assays
NanoString GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler offering spatially and morphology defined whole transcriptome analyses

Spatial Proteomics

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, by hand or automated (Roche Ventana BenchmarkXT and Leica Bond RXM) with quantitative analyses
Immunofluorescence staining (Bioview Solo & Duet)
NanoString GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler for tissue based (whole sections or TMA) analyses that allow for profiling of precise selection and separation of tissue compartments
Standard molecular assays (Westerns, ELISAs)

*coming soon in 2024 NanoString CosMX Spatial Molecular Imager for tissue-based profiling at cellular and subcellular resolution

Contact diagnostic.development@oicr.on.ca to see how we can help you with your project.

Under the Microscope