ALERT

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As of August 2025, we have 16 shared research facilities online!  

Looking ahead, by the end of fall 2025 we will have 30+ shared research facilities in our system, and we will offer training classes for faculty, staff and students at Pitt. 

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Please review our new Shared Facilities webpage and the iLab training material available in the “Using Core Facilities” section.

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About

Lentiviral Laboratory of the Vector Facility

Getting Started

To request services, you need register for iLab.  


Users with UPitt IDs

Please register for iLab by clicking HERE


Users without a UPitt ID, register for an iLab account:

 

Please click HERE to fill out the required information and request an account.  You will receive a password within one business day.

 

Registered Users:

If you have an iLab account, log in at the top right of this page.

1) To request a service or order a Vector, click on the Request Service tab.  At the top is a list of service categories. Click on the category and press the Request Service button to initiate the request.  Complete the form and submit to the core. 


Have an account but need a password?

If you have an iLab account, but you do not know your password, you may request a new password.  Click HERE to create a new password.

 

Overview of Services

The VCF provides high- and low-titer HIV lentivirus preparation of stock viruses for fluorescent protein expression, cDNA expression, localization of subcellular expression, and for shRNA expression from a library for all human and mouse genes. Further, the VCF will help investigators in the design and development of lentiviruses for cDNA expression that may be used for cell-based studies and transgenic mouse production, cell transduction, and characterization (development of stable cell lines and analysis by qRT-PCR) as well as lentiviral titering and testing for replication competence.

 

Lentivirus Options:
  • Small scale, Low Titer Lentivirus: 4 x 1mL, ~10^6 particles/mL, $200
  • Medium scale, Low Titer Lentivirus: 25 x 1mL, ~10^6 particles/mL, $500
  • Large scale, Low Titer Lentivirus: 75 x 1mL, ~10^6 particles/mL, $1200
  • Medium Titer Lentivirus: 10 x 10uL, ~10^8 particles/mL, $700
  • High Lentivirus: 5 x 5uL, ~10^9 particles/mL, $3,200
  • shRNA Gene Set (including 5 different shRNA hairpins/gene + GFP or scrambled control): 4 x 1mL/vector (6 total), ~10^6 particles/mL, $850
*Optional: The titer of each Lentivirus prep can be checked for $50/prep
*For a list of available vectors see Resources section below
 
 
Molecular Cloning Options:
  • Full Cloning (Cloning your gene of interest into pENTR through TOPO reaction and into a pLVX Gateway vector through an LR reaction; includes 1 Small scale, Low Titer Lentivirus Prep)
    • Up to 1.5kb insert: $1000
    • 1.5kb insert and larger: $2000
  • Partial Cloning (You provide a sequence verified pENTR vector, we will complete the LR reaction into a pLVX Gateway vector through an LR reaction; includes 1 Small scale, Low Titer Lentivirus Prep)
    • $500
 

Resources

Leadership

Dr. Robert Sobol, PhD | Director

Ashely Brown | Lab Manager

Hours and Location

Hours

Admin Location

Lab Location

Dr Sobol Location

Monday through Friday 

10AM to 3:30 PM

Hillman Cancer Center, Suite 2.6

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Hillman Cancer Center, Suite 2.1

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Hillman Cancer Center, Suite 26A

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Dr. Rob Sobol
Director
 
412-623-7764
 
rwsobol@mac.com
 
HCC, Suite 26A
 
Ashely Brown
Lab Manager
 
412-623-7809
 
sobol.lab@gmail.com
 
HCC, Suite 2.1