Gladstone-CIRM Shared Resources Laboratory

Gladstone-CIRM Shared Resources Laboratory is a centralized facility at Gladstone Institutes offering a streamlined platform for stem cell-based disease modeling, drug screening, and CRISPR screening for therapeutic development. Combined, these technologies give researchers the ability to not only see how disease forms and progresses in highly realistic models, but also pinpoint the exact genes at the root of disease.

The center, established in 2024 with a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), builds on existing capabilities of Gladstone’s Stem Cell Core, Assay Development and Drug Discovery Core, and Bioinformatics Core.

To support researchers in their development of disease-modeling platforms from stem cell-derived neurons, cardiomyocytes, and immune cells, the center offers lab automation equipment and advanced analysis methods that increase production while improving reproducibility. We also deploy open-source software for genetic and image analysis to complement commercial analysis packages.

Gladstone-CIRM Shared Resources Laboratory leadership (left to right) Anke Meyer-Franke, PhD, Bruce Conklin, MD, Ritu Kumar, PhD, and Alex Pico, PhD (not shown).

The center’s CRISPR screening platforms, which aid in discovering and evaluating novel therapeutics, include powerful high-throughput screens of stem cell models. Along with this, researchers have access to state-of-the-art drug and CRISPR libraries, equipment, and expertise to discover new therapeutic targets and potential treatments.

Education and the dissemination of key research methods are also top priorities of the center. We provide training opportunities to students and researchers with hands-on stem cell and bioinformatics courses, workshops, and tutorials.