Setting up a Molecular Lab in a Setting up a Molecular Lab in a Developing CountryDeveloping Country

Dr. Azhar HussainResearch Associate

Molecular Oncology Unit.King Fahad National Center for Children’s

Cancer and Research.King Faisal Specialist Hospital &

Research center.Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Translational ResearchTranslational Research

Since the emergence of Translational Research (TR), the term, “from bench to bedside” has taken a new meaning in the management of cancer

Translational research (TR) involves both, the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

Results achieved in research laboratories have direct implications on clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancer today

Monitoring of patients for minimal residual disease during and after treatment using molecular markers

Detection of chromosomal abnormalities using PCR techniques

Translational ResearchTranslational ResearchNovel DiagnosticsNovel Diagnostics

Translational ResearchTranslational ResearchNovel TherapeuticsNovel Therapeutics

New Drug Discovery

Gleevic (STI571) for the treatment of CML

Radio labeled Monoclonal antibodies for metastatic medullary thyroid cancer

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) for the treatment of HER- 2’ (ErbB-2)-over-expressing metastatic breast

cancer

Translational ResearchTranslational ResearchNovel TherapeuticsNovel Therapeutics

On-going trials with drugs or naturally occurring compounds.

•PI3’-kinase pathway inhibitor (LY294002)

•Jak-Stat pathway inhibitor (Ag490)

•Curcumin (PI3’-kinase and Jak-Stat pathway inhibitor)

Why is a Molecular biology lab needed in a Why is a Molecular biology lab needed in a developing country?developing country?

• Advances in the understanding of the biology of cancerhave increased the cure rate of selected cancers in developed countries.

•Developing countries continue to lack far behind.

•Better understanding of the biology of cancers is needed

•A functional molecular biology laboratory is vital in developing countries to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Three essential components for Three essential components for establishing a molecular biology lab.establishing a molecular biology lab.

1: Adequate and well organized laboratory space

2: Essential and specialized lab equipment with proper storage capacity

3: Well-trained staff including lab chief, supervisors, post-docs and technicians

Adequate and well organized laboratory space

Long hallways can be utilized for storage as well as for work benches for different procedures and experimentsThe flow of a lab should ALWAYS be in one direction

One way road. No U-turn allowed!!!One way road. No U-turn allowed!!!

Pre-PCR area

Template area

PCR area

One way road. No U-turn allowed!!!One way road. No U-turn allowed!!!

Pre-PCR areaPCR area

Template area

Gel running area

Sample processing areaSample processing area

Tissue culture facilityTissue culture facility

Microscope

Class 2-Type2Tissue culture

Hood

CO2 Incubators

Individual work benchesIndividual work benches

Essential lab equipmentEssential lab equipmentTable top centrifuges and microwave oven Water purification system

Microfuge

Thermal cyclersMiscellaneous

Specialized lab equipmentSpecialized lab equipmentReal-time light cycler (PCR) Photo documentation system

Affimetrix gene chip arrayer ABI genetic analyzer

Storage facilityStorage facility

-700 to –800 freezers40 to –200 refrigerators

and freezers

SO NOW WHAT?????SO NOW WHAT?????

Machines cannot replace the human mind.Machines cannot replace the human mind.

Machines and instruments do not run on Machines and instruments do not run on their owntheir own

Machines and instruments do not run Machines and instruments do not run researchers and scientistsresearchers and scientists

Researchers and scientists run these Researchers and scientists run these machinesmachines

Molecular biology lab in a developing Molecular biology lab in a developing countrycountry

The same The same QualityQuality of work can be of work can be achieved with essential lab equipment in a achieved with essential lab equipment in a developing countrydeveloping country Proper planning Proper planning Clear goalsClear goals Expertise in the molecular biology fieldExpertise in the molecular biology field Adequate fundingAdequate funding Dedication of lab personnel Dedication of lab personnel

All that glitters is not Gold!!!All that glitters is not Gold!!!

Third and most important component of Third and most important component of establishing a good molecular biology labestablishing a good molecular biology lab Well-trained staffWell-trained staff

Head of the labHead of the lab SupervisorsSupervisors post-docspost-docs technicians.technicians.

Head of the LabHead of the Lab

Should be an experienced scientist (MD or PhD)Should be an experienced scientist (MD or PhD) Up to date in molecular techniques and latest Up to date in molecular techniques and latest

scientific literaturescientific literature Has a strong track record for funding and Has a strong track record for funding and

publicationspublications Has creative ideas for researchHas creative ideas for research Diplomatic and patientDiplomatic and patient Has good rapport with the staffHas good rapport with the staff

Supervisor and lab managerSupervisor and lab manager

Responsible for standardization of molecular Responsible for standardization of molecular biology techniques and protocols biology techniques and protocols

Conforms to international standards for all Conforms to international standards for all techniques e.g.techniques e.g. DNA isolation, RNA isolation and protein extraction DNA isolation, RNA isolation and protein extraction

Sets up projects for post-docs and techniciansSets up projects for post-docs and technicians Supervises staff Supervises staff Orders reagents and consumables for the labOrders reagents and consumables for the lab May have an independent project of his/her ownMay have an independent project of his/her own

Post-docsPost-docs

Manage and execute independent projects Manage and execute independent projects in the lab with minimal supervisionin the lab with minimal supervision

Take care of the daily bench work Take care of the daily bench work running experiments running experiments collecting datacollecting data

Search relevant scientific literatureSearch relevant scientific literature Write abstracts and papers on results Write abstracts and papers on results

achieved in the labachieved in the lab

TechniciansTechnicians Help the post-docs and scientists in different projects Help the post-docs and scientists in different projects

and experimentsand experiments

Responsible for all the standard work in the lab such Responsible for all the standard work in the lab such DNA, RNA and protein isolationDNA, RNA and protein isolation

Can also be trained to run more involved experiments Can also be trained to run more involved experiments e.g.e.g. western blots, PCRwestern blots, PCR

Help in collecting data that is generated by these Help in collecting data that is generated by these experimentsexperiments

Training Requirements for all lab personnelTraining Requirements for all lab personnel

Universal precautionsUniversal precautions Lab safety courseLab safety course Radiation safety courseRadiation safety course Molecular biology updatesMolecular biology updates Human subject trainingHuman subject training

ConclusionsConclusions Should a Molecular lab be established in a Should a Molecular lab be established in a

developing country?developing country? YesYes

How?How? private and governmental fundingprivate and governmental funding International, national and regional collaborationsInternational, national and regional collaborations

Dedicated and qualified personnelDedicated and qualified personnel

Basic lab equipmentBasic lab equipment

COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH!COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH!

King Fahad National Center for Children’s Cancer & Research