Preclinical Models Core

The Preclinical Models Core in the San Diego Digestive Diseases Research Center provides members with access to a range of conventional and gnotobiotic murine models of infection and inflammation in the intestinal tract and liver, cutting-edge technologies for histological and intravital analysis, and primary human liver cells for functional studies. The Core will also assist SDDRC investigators in model selection and interpretation, data acquisition from animal models, and histopathologic evaluation by a veterinary pathologist. The Core is led by Tatiana Kisseleva, MD, PhD, and Kenneth Kim, D.V.M. experienced leaders with strong track records in applying these models to basic and preclinical research.

Furthermore, the Core interacts with and directly complements, the Human Translational as well as the Microbiomics and Functional Genomics Cores by being able to relate the imaging results, biomarkers, and clinical data to specific outcomes in animal models and human disease.

To access these services, please contact Center: sddrc@health.ucsd.edu

Services Currently Available:

• SDDRC histopathology office hours - Kenneth Kim, DACVP
  • Date: 3rd Thursday of the month beginning October 17, 2024
  • Time: 12:00-1:00pm, PDT
  • Location: Google Meet
• Services in histology and microscopy (see YouTube video for an overview) including tissue preparation, help in establishing proper fixation, routine and specialized staining, slide scanning, multiplex immunofluorescence, state-of-the-art microscopy, second harmonic generation collagen imaging, intravital imaging, and image analysis. 
  • Please see the FFPE sample submission guidelines (PDF).
  • All orders are submitted via the online Infinity-Core management portal: tiny.cc/ljicore
    How-to videos and instructions are available: tiny.cc/ljicorevideoguide
    Quote requests: tiny.cc/ljiquote
    To obtain rate: LJI Rates
    If you are a new customer or to get in touch with LJI, please email: histology@lji.org
• Gnotobiotic animal models
• Histopathological consultation by a board-certified veterinary pathologist. Please email: pathology@lji.org
• Consultation and training on the principles, experimental design, methods, and data analysis for various models and assays.
• Models of infectious and non-infectious forms of injury and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, toxic liver injury and fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and liver cancer.
• Isolation of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells from normal and diseased human livers

For consults or questions regarding obtaining services, Center members should email the Center at: sddrc@health.ucsd.edu