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Scientific Cores

In addition to their research programmes, some of our core groups offer a range of scientific services to research groups in the Centre itself, in other University of Oxford departments, and in other institutions. In addition the Centre also provides free access to a number of databases and software applications.

Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics

BSG provides advice and support in the following areas:

  • Advice on experimental design
  • Processing and analysis pipelines for NGS data (Illumina and ONT) and microarrays
  • Ensuring high data quality and providing QC reports
  • Extensive informatics support for tracking, processing and managing large volumes of raw sequence data
  • Training and advice on the use of a variety of bioinformatics tools and analyses
  • Collaborating with research groups to perform downstream analyses
  • Developing software tools to aid scientists in the analysis of omic datasets
  • Evaluating data from trials of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies (e.g. single-cell)
  • Assistance with manuscript preparation and submitting data to public repositories

Chromosome Dynamics

Chromosome Dynamics provides:

  • A range of different fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) applications
  • Related tissue culture techniques
  • Probe preparation
  • Support with cytological techniques, including Immunofluorescence and Chromogenic RNA in situ hybridization (ISH)

Cellular Imaging

Cellular Imaging provides:

  • State-of-the-art laboratories for fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy with technical assistance in digital imaging and quantitative microscopy applied to live cells.
  • The Cellular Imaging Core performs research and development of cutting-edge fluorescence microscopy techniques. Lifetime Imaging, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Super-Resolution microscopy approaches are available.
  • The Cellular Imaging Core also disseminates knowledge of fluorescence spectroscopic applications to the scientific community.

Biomedical Research Computing

Biomedical Research Computing provides:

  • A local facility for high-performance computing across WHG and BDI
  • High-performance batch (cluster) computing: Univa Grid Engine with nearly 7000 CPU cores and 60 GPU cards
  • Shared use of an extensive suite of >300 properly compiled and installed scientific applications
  • Large, fast storage systems: 10PB of Spectrum Scale (GPFS) at up to 50GB/s
  • Oxford's only on-premise cloud platform: OpenStack platform with 1200 CPU cores and 40 GPU cards backed by 300TB NVMe Ceph at up to 80GB/s
  • A cheap tier of storage for holding old data: currently (Jan 2019) £10.60 per terabyte per six months
  • State-of-the-art networking including 100Gbit/s Open Ethernet using Cumulus, EDR (100Gbit/s) InfiniBand and a private 400Gbit/s link between WHG and BDI
  • Oxford's only high-compliance secure VDI/cloud platform
  • Test-and-dev platforms for OpenStack, oVirt and S3 object storage
  • Training and workshops on using these facilities
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