Services Overview
Obatala Sciences™ offers contract research services to laboratories in industry and in academia. Our clients include US government entities, contract research organizations, non-profit organizations and academic research laboratories. Our in-house research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
In Vitro
Obatala® offers in vitro studies in 2D and 3D systems. Obatala’s 3D cell culture system, ObaCell®, consists of setting up the systems with our proprietary human-derived hydrogel, ObaGel®. Customers can request in vitro studies be performed solely in 2D or 3D culture or in both of our cell culture systems. Our cell culture services include cell isolation and expansion in 2D or 3D systems from tissues that are internally available at Obatala (human adipose, bone marrow, bone, or placenta) or from human- or animal-derived tissues provided by the customer. In addition to the isolation and expansion in our different cell culture systems, Obatala can perform lineage specific differentiation of cells, staining of cells, and quantification of the staining if desired.
In Vivo
Additionally, Obatala offers in vivo studies in different animal models in a variety of animal species. Our most popular animal model is the pressure ulcer model in C57Bl/6 mice (see our white paper about this model here), but we also offer animal models to study skin diseases/injuries, diabetes, cranial defects, and bone repair. Obatala is also ready to work with its customers to develop in vivo studies that will be appropriate for their research purposes.
Oversight
Obatala Sciences Scientific team had decades of experience in research and stays up to date with current best practices and required certifications and trainings. In addition, all animal studies are performed only after protocol review and approval by an independent, academically run Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). All studies involving de-identified human clinical tissue specimens are performed under protocols reviewed and approved by an independent Institutional Review Board.
Available Assays
Cell Selection/Enrichment: Obatala offers magnetic bead-based selection/enrichment of cells. Customers can opt to select/enrich the desired cells using Obatala’s validated panel of surface markers or provide information on the desired markers they wish to use.
Flow Cytometry: Obatala offers flow cytometry analysis for all in vitro or in vivo studies that involve cell culture in either 2D or 3D systems. Obatala’s expertise involves performing analyses for stromal vascular cells (SVFs) and adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs); thus, our customers can choose flow cytometry analysis following ASC or SVF cell surface marker panels or request their own desired markers for analysis. In addition, Obatala can offer antigen expression analysis for an additional fee. These services can be adapted to any cell type and specie of origin as required by Obatala’s clients.
Gene Expression: Obatala offers gene expression analysis for all in vitro or in vivo studies. Customers can choose to include analyses with polymerase chain reaction, DNA isolation, or RNA isolation analyses in their studies.
Histology: Obatala offers the option to perform histology if the customer is performing in vivo studies or providing tissue for cell isolation/expansion. Customers can request that their samples be returned to them as paraffin embedded blocks, fresh frozen samples, or stained/unstained slides. Obatala offers immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence staining of slides.
Microscopy: Obatala offers a variety of microscopy services that include phase contrast, fluorescent, or confocal microscopy. All of Obatala’s microscopes are equipped with cameras able to take microscopy pictures for qualitative or quantitative analyses.
Protein Expression: Obatala offers proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry of cells and tissue samples. Additionally, we offer targeted proteomic analysis focused on Adipokine and Cytokine expression.
Functionality: Obatala offers functionality endpoint analyses to customers studying different disease models. These include but are not limited to glucose uptake, lipolysis and cell mitochondrial activity
Analysis of Data: Obatala offers analyses of the results of all endpoints selected by the customer. Alternatively, customers can select for only the raw data to be reported. Analyses of data include image analysis using different quantification software, such as Cell Profiler and Image J. If the customer selects for the analysis of the resulting data, the data will be presented in a final report prepared by the Obatala research team.
Fat-on-a-Chip Model
ObaCell® is a great tool for disease modeling and drug screening. We can provide data in various areas depending on your interest.
Proteomics
We can measure changes in proteins expressed as well as those secreted.
Genomics
If a biomarker is expressed at a genomic level and it is not abundantly expressed in the conditioned medium, we can digest our fat-on-a-chip and analyze gene expression
Adipokine Secretion
We can look at any adipokine of interest and any other markers of safety that you are interested in.
Functionality
We can measure endpoints such as glucose uptake and lipolysis at various timepoints giving an indicator of adipose tissue functionality.