StemCore Laboratories
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Overview
StemCore Laboratories is Ottawa's genomics core facility, located at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and affiliated with the University of Ottawa, serving researchers across Ottawa and beyond.
Our cutting-edge platforms include the Illumina NovaSeq X, 10x Chromium X, and Visium HD spatial transcriptomics, supporting research from pilot projects to population-scale studies.
With 50+ years of combined genomics expertise, we support 45+ research groups through expert consultation, state-of-the-art technology, and seamless integration with OHRI's flow cytometry and bioinformatics cores.
We are located on the 5th floor of the Critical Care Wing at The Ottawa Hospital's General Campus (rm CCW5132)
Our Services
AFFORDABLE SEQUENCING
Sanger sequencing and Long-Read plasmid verification. We also serve as Ottawa's free drop-box for Plasmidsaurus and Flow Genomics - drop off samples by Monday 10:30am for same-day shipping.
Contact: Shahriar Sheikholeslami (shsheikholeslami@ohri.ca)
SAMPLE QC/QA
Fragment Analysis, quantification and quality assessment of your samples to ensure your samples are ready for sequencing
Contact: Caroline Vergette (cvergette@ohri.ca) or Katayoun Sheikheleslamy (ksheikheleslamy@ohri.ca)
NGS (NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING)
High-throughput sequencing on our Illumina NovaSeq X for whole genome, exome, RNA-seq, and more.
Contact: Caroline Vergette (cvergette@ohri.ca)
SINGLE CELL ANALYSIS
Uncover cellular heterogeneity with our 10x Genomics Chromium X platform for single cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and multi-omics.
Contact: Katayoun Sheikheleslamy (ksheikheleslamy@ohri.ca)
POPULATION-BASED OMICS
Comprehensive bulk sequencing and multi-omics profiling including RNA-seq, proteomics (Olink), chromatin assays and methylation
Contact: Caroline Vergette (cvergette@ohri.ca)
SPATIAL BIOLOGY
Map molecular profiles within tissue architecture using Visium HD spatial transcriptomics and CellDIVE multiplexed immunofluorescent imaging.
Contact: Katayoun Sheikheleslamy (ksheikheleslamy@ohri.ca) for Visium, Damian Carragher (dcarragher@ohri.ca) for CellDIVE
Free Monday Drop-Box Service
We serve as Ottawa's collection point for Plasmidsaurus and Flow Genomics long-read sequencing services.
Drop off samples by Monday 10:30am for same-day shipping at no charge.
Drop Off Location: Sample Drop boxes are located in the CCW 5th floor lobby, which can be accessed from the Critical Care Wing Eye Institute Elevators
Questions? Contact: Damian Carragher (dcarragher@ohri.ca, ext. 73251)
Sample Submission
All samples submitted to StemCore are processed through Idea Elan Infinity, our online core facility management system. Each laboratory and user must create an account before submitting samples.
To get started:
- Visit Idea Elan Infinity.
- Create an account with your institutional email
- Link to your PI's funding account
- Select your service and submit sample information
Need help? Instructions for creating accounts and submitting samples can be found in our user guides:
Sample Drop-off:
- DNA samples: Can be dropped off any time in the CCW 5th floor lobby cooler (accessible via Eye Institute elevators)
- RNA samples: Must be delivered in person to StemCore staff to protect fragile samples - contact us to arrange
Questions? Contact Damian Carragher (dcarragher@ohri.ca, ext. 73251)
Contact Us
Damian Carragher, PhD - Director, StemCore Laboratories
(613) 737-8899 ext 73251
dcarragher@ohri.ca
Damian brings international core facility experience spanning the UK, US, and Canada since 2008. His scientific background includes histology, flow and mass cytometry, genomics, and an immunology postdoctoral fellowship. He personally operates StemCore's CellDIVE multiplexed imaging platform and oversees all facility operations, working to ensure cutting-edge technologies and expert consultation are accessible to Ottawa's research community.
Kathy Sheikheleslamy - Single Cell and Spatial Biology Specialist
(613) 737-8899 x73251
ksheikheleslamy@ohri.ca
With 20+ years at StemCore, Katayoun has evolved alongside genomics technologies from microarrays through to today's advanced platforms. She manages all 10x Genomics workflows including 3'/5'/Flex scRNA-seq, multiome, Visium, and Visium HD spatial transcriptomics, bringing deep expertise to single-cell experimental design and troubleshooting.
Caroline Vergette - NGS Specialist
(613) 737-8899 x73251
cvergette@ohri.ca
Caroline is an expert across all Illumina sequencing platforms, from the latest NovaSeq X to the NextSeq 500 or 2000, MiniSeq, and legacy systems. She manages the full spectrum of library preparation protocols including Olink proteomics, methylation sequencing, ATAC-seq, CUT&RUN, and RNA-seq workflows, ensuring optimal results for diverse genomic applications.
Shahriar Sheikholeslami - Affordable Sequencing Specialist (Long Read and Sanger)
(613) 737-8899 x73629
shsheikholeslami@ohri.ca
Shahriar splits his time between StemCore and the Flow Cytometry Core, bringing 5 years of affordable sequencing expertise to StemCore. He manages Sanger sequencing operations, builds long-read capabilities on the MinION platform, and coordinates the Monday drop-box service connecting Ottawa researchers to external long-read providers.