The SCOC is a collaboration between the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), an institute under the umbrella of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and US-based biochip company Fluidigm.
The 25 mt2 research centre is expected to develop a method where the cells of solid tumours can be easily converted into cells floating in a liquid solution.
Fluidigm president and CEO Gajus Worthington said that the Single-cell genomics provides researchers with an opportunity for extraordinary scientific discovery.
Located at GIS facilities in Biopolis, the SCOC features the Fluidigm C1 Single-Cell Auto Prep System, which automatically isolates individual cells from small tissue quantities or larger cell populations and houses two Fluidigm BioMark HD Systems that perform single-cell gene expression analytics and validation.
GIS principal investigator Paul Robson said the Single-Cell Omics Centre aims to facilitate community access to the microfluidic technologies and thus enable unparalleled insight into underlying biological mechanisms operative in health and disease.