NIH Tetramer Core Facility

The NIH Tetramer Core Facility (TCF) was established in 1999 to provide custom synthesis and distribution of soluble major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide tetramer reagents that can be used to detect antigen-specific T cells. The reagents are used to assess T cell responses in a range of disease areas, including asthma and allergy; autoimmunity; cancer; infectious diseases, including HIV; basic immunology; tolerance; and transplantation.

More information about this resource is available at NIH Tetramer Core Facility

Main Areas of Focus

Reagents provided by the TCF include custom and non-classical class I MHC; mouse and human CD1d; mouse, human and non-human primate (NHP) MR1; human CD1 a, b, and c; and custom- and pre-made class II monomers and tetramers.

Who Can Use This Resource

Investigators at academic and non-profit institutions:

  • Investigators are not required to have an NIH grant or be based in the United States.

Investigators at for-profit and commercial organizations:

  • The TCF generally does not provide for-profit/commercial organizations with Class I and Class II MHC tetramers that are commercially available.
  • The NIH Tetramer Resource Committee (TRC) will consider for-profit/commercial requests for reagents that are not commercially available on a case-by-case basis.

How To Get Started

Visit the TCF website and create an account.
Note: this account must be under the Principal Investigator of the lab.

Reagents are provided to qualified investigators at no cost; however, when applicable, investigators are responsible for supplying the required peptide(s) or other appropriate ligand(s).

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