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​Molecular Biology Core Facilities

Welcome to the Molecular Biology Core Facilities

The Molecular Biology Core Facilities (MBCF) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provide expertise and access to cutting-edge genomic and proteomic technologies in a shared use setting. Although these services are primarily focused on cancer and AIDS research, most services are broadly applicable to other areas of research. We are proud to highlight some of our new services here.

 

What’s New?

April 2026

MBCF Adds icon96 PCR for Improved NGS Data Quality and Consistency

MBCF has added the N6 icon96 PCR system to support next-generation sequencing workflows. This platform uses real-time feedback to optimize PCR amplification on a per-sample basis, reducing amplification bias and improving library uniformity.

This means cleaner data, more consistent results, and improved performance with low-input samples, including cfDNA and RNA-seq applications.

The addition of iconPCR also streamlines library preparation, enabling faster turnaround and more reliable outcomes across projects.

 

February 2026

Webinar: Advancing Epigenomics with CUT&RUN: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices presented by EpiCypher.

The location of histone post-translational modifications and chromatin-associated proteins within the genome is an important consideration for many researchers. Today, there are many assays available to map how this landscape shifts in disease states or in response to treatment—but which is the best one for your lab? In this seminar, we will explore CUT&RUN, a revolutionary epigenomic mapping tool that is quickly replacing ChIP-Seq for understanding the role of the epigenome in scientific research. Whether you’re a current CUT&RUN researcher looking to improve your experimental outcomes, a ChIP-Seq expert interested in new technologies, or a new user curious about how CUT&RUN can be used to profile your favorite epigenetic targets, this webinar will set you on the path to success! 

Date: Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
Time: 11AM – 12 PM ET

August 2024

NovaSeq X Plus Grant Award

MBCF has been awarded funding for the NovaSeq X Plus. If your project utilized sequencing data from this platform, you must acknowledge this grant in your publications as follows:

This work utilized an Illumina NovaSeq X Plus that was purchased with funding from a National Institutes of Health SIG grant 1S10OD036228-01.

July 2024

NovaSeq 6000 to be retired October 2024

Due to broad uptake of the new Illumina NovaSeq X Plus sequencing platform, MBCF will no longer support sequencing on the older NovaSeq 6000 platform beginning October 1, 2024. The NovaSeq X plus is essentially better, faster, and cheaper than the NovaSeq 6000. As a result, almost all projects and services have already been transitioned to the NovaSeq X Plus platform. We do not anticipate that suspending NovaSeq 6000 services will have any significant impact for ongoing projects.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

March 2024

Illumina NovaSeq X Plus Sequencing

  • 10X single-cell sequencing: lane on 10B flowcell 1.2B reads for $1,500/$1,800 (internal/external) per lane.
  • RNAseq: QC, library prep, 50M 150bp clusters (read pairs), $300/$350 (internal/external) per sample.
  • Cut & Run: library prep, 20M 150bp clusters (read pairs), $185/$200 (internal/external) per sample.
  • Whole Exome Sequencing: 100X coverage.
  • Coming soon 1.5B Flowcell and 25B Flowcell lane pricing (inquire)