Services
The TAL analyses human samples from national and international Phase I to Phase III trials of novel targeted therapies that maximise patient impact, transform understanding of disease biology and dissect mechanisms of action of therapies and mechanisms of response.
It is open to all PIs in Oxford and the UK and offers a wide selection of Next Generation Sequencing genetic and deep phenotyping assays on cells and tissues. The TAL works closely with the WIMM Single Cell and Imaging facilities and supports long-term bio-banking of nucleic acids and viable cells.
The laboratory works with CIs/PIs to add value to a clinical trial, offering assays that allow:
- Patient selection at the start of a trial
- Patient stratification into different therapy arms during the trial
- Validation of secondary endpoints for more rapid trials and exploratory endpoints.
Careful analysis can also provide mechanistic data on how therapies work in patients, providing confidence to regulators.
We currently provide the following services on peripheral blood and bone marrow samples:
Ukas accredited tests
A full list of all accredited tests provided by the laboratory is detailed in our Schedule of Accreditation.
| Tests | Technique Used |
| Manual isolation of mononuclear cells | Density gradient separation |
| Automated isolation of mononuclear cells | Density gradient separation |
| Detection of minimal residual disease for acute myeloid leukaemias | Flow Cytometry |
| Automated DNA extraction | Magnetic particle technology |
| Manual DNA extraction | Silica-based membrane |
| DNA quantitation | Fluorimetry |
| Automated RNA extraction | Magnetic particle technology |
| Manual RNA extraction | Silica-based membrane |
| RNA quantitation | Fluorimetry |
| Qualitative detection of hotspot mutations in NPM1 | Multiplex PCR detected by capillary electrophoresis |
| Qualitative detection of hotspot mutations in IDH1 | Multiplex PCR detected by capillary electrophoresis |
|
Fusion gene detection:
|
Multiplex PCR followed by fragment length analysis detected by capillary electrophoresis |
non-accredited tests
Some tests provided by the laboratory are not included within the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation.
These tests are managed within the Laboratory Quality Management System and are subject to the same high level of quality assurance protocols as those that are UKAS accredited.
| Tests | Technique Used |
| Detection of mutations in FLT3; FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD (awaiting UKAS assessment) | Multiplex PCR detected by capillary electrophoresis |
| Detection of minimal residual disease for acute myeloid leukaemias using Leukaemia Stem Cells panel | Flow Cytometry (for research purposes only) |
|
Molecular genetic analysis for somatic variants: Targeted analysis using diagnostic myeloid gene panel. Screening Panel of 108 genes including: ASXL1, BCOR, BCORL1, BRAF, CALR, CBL, CEBPA, CSF3R, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FLT3, GATA2, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MPL, MYD88, NPM1, NRAS, PHF6, PTPN11, RAD21, RUNX1, SETBP1, SF3B1, SMC1A, SMC3, SRSF2, STAG2, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, WT1, ZRSR2 |
NGS library preparation and hybrid capture enrichment using a custom capture panel followed by Next generation sequencing |
01865 222449 or 0777 2615456
Therapy Acceleration Lab
MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine
University of Oxford
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DS