Skip to main content
Systems Immunity Research Institute

Facilities and resources

We utilise state-of-the-art laboratory and computational technologies, and have access to disease models, tissue banks, patient cohorts and a clinical research facility.

Technology platforms

Our research takes advantage of state-of-the-art 'big data' technologies, which comprise whole genome sequencing, genome-wide linkage and association studies, cutting edge imaging and 'omics platforms (transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics), polychromatic flow cytometry and protein crystallography.

Expertise in advanced bioinformatics, biostatistics, programming and mathematical modelling is facilitated via close links to the Data Innovation Research Institute at Cardiff University.

Central Biotechnology Services (CBS) is a certified technology facility that offers expertise and experimental platforms in Genomics and Bioinformatics, Proteins and Diagnostics, and Cell Analysis and Imaging.

The Wales Gene Park provides next generation sequencing facilities and bioinformatics support for exome and genome sequencing, and whole transcriptome analysis.

A dedicated biological service unit provides a barrier area (including an embedded Cat-3 laboratory) for the study of physiological model systems relevant to disease and immunity.

This also houses imaging facilities allowing researchers to utilise X-ray, radio-isotope, fluorescence and luminescence in experimental models. Large scale resources include experimental magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Provision of research imaging is supported by the Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre (PETIC), and the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC).

Clinical research and tissue banks

The Clinical Research Facility (CRF) provides the infrastructure for the successful translation of basic biomedical science developments into clinical practice, in close collaboration with the Centre for Trials Research.

Access to human tissues is facilitated via the Biobank Wales alliance that hosts biobanks such as the Wales Cancer Bank, the Wales Kidney Tissue Bank, the Welsh Neuroscience Research Tissue Bank and the Cardiff Regional Experimental Arthritis Treatment and Evaluation Centre (CREATE) Biobank.

Many of our clinical studies are registered on the UK Clinical Research Network Study Portfolio, for instance:

  • Immune cell studies in Type 1 Diabetes (ISTID)
  • Primary care use of a C-Reactive Protein Point of Care Test in COPD (PACE)
  • Patient immune responses to infection in Peritoneal Dialysis (PERITPD)
  • Point of care testing for urinary tract infection in primary care (POETIC)