Endocrine Technologies Core
Our mission
The Endocrine Technologies Core (ETC) provides essential endocrine assay services and specialized expertise to investigators in order to advance a wide array of research in a number of species, with a focus on nonhuman primates (NHP).
The ETC provides the following routine services to both intra- and extramural scientists:
- Immunochemiluminescence assays using a Roche cobas e411 automated clinical platform for measurement of hormones in NHP and humans
- Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and radioimmunoassays (RIA)
- Multiplex assays on a Luminex platform using antibody-coated beads for protein and cytokine/chemokine analysis
- Liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using Shimadzu Nexera-LCMS-8050 and Shimadzu Nexera-LCMS-8060 instruments
- Traditional RIA for gonadotropins
- Extraction RIA for steroid hormones
About us
The Endocrine Technologies Core (ETC) at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) has been providing analysis of protein and steroid content in blood to intra- and extramural investigators for over 40 years. Our sample sources include academic institutions, zoos, and veterinary clinics, as well as pharmaceutical, biotech, and translational research companies.
Principal support functions include routine assays for most naturally occurring steroid and protein hormones involved in the regulation of reproduction, metabolism, and the central nervous system. We also develop, validate, and optimize new assays when requested by investigators.
Contact us
External users must contact Dr. David Erikson, ETC Director erikson@ohsu.edu, 503-346-5078 before initiation of services.
Lab Contact for ETC assay request and sample shipment: endoreq@ohsu.edu, 503-346-5066
Sample Shipping Address:
Dr. David Erikson
Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC)
Endocrine Technologies Core
505 NW 185th Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97006
The ETC team
David Erikson, Ph.D., is the Director of the ETC. He has been at ONPRC in this capacity since 2014. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Erikson held appointments at several academic institutions, where he gained extensive experience in multiple areas including endocrinology, reproductive biology, and assay technologies. As the Director, Dr. Erikson collaborates with investigators, analyzes and reports data, initiates new technology development, and manages all operations and direction of the ETC.
Steven Blue is a Senior Research Associate in the ETC. He has worked in the ETC since 2006 and performs a number of steroid and protein assays, including LC-MS/MS.
Andrea Winchell is a Senior Research Associate. She has worked in the ETC since 2009 and performs RIA, ELISA, and Luminex analyses.
Kristopher Fecteau, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Associate. Kris has worked in the ETC since 2019 and performs LC-MS/MS analyses.
Alexis Williams is a Research Associate. Alexis has worked in the ETC since 2023 and performs immunoassays and LC-MS/MS analyses.
Francis K.-Y. Pau, Ph.D., is a consultant to the ETC. Dr. Pau worked at the ONPRC for 30 years in endocrinology, neuroscience, and stem cell biology with years of experience in RIA and other assays, and is the former Director of the ETC.
David Hess, Ph.D., is a consultant to the ETC. Dr. Hess is the founder of the ETC and was the Director of the ETC for over three decades before his retirement.
ETC Services
The ETC has a Roche cobas e411 automated immunoassay platform that currently offers 40 assays for human serum and/or plasma. A number of these assays have been validated for use in NHP serum and/ or plasma samples: estradiol-17ß, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, ACTH, prolactin, total T3, free T3, total T4, free T4, insulin, C-peptide, DHEAS, ferritin, serum beta-CrossLaps (CTX), growth hormone, osteocalcin, AMH, and vitamin D. We also offer daily STAT testing of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone in NHP and human subjects for ONPRC and OHSU investigators for the purpose of monitoring menstrual cycles in these subjects.
Assays for proteins or peptides without extraction are available as in-house assays or from commercial sources. In-house assays include NHP LH, NHP FSH, and NHP CG. Routine commercial assays include inhibin-B, AMH, growth hormone, prolactin, leptin, ghrelin, glucagon, IGF-1, and total or high molecular weight adiponectin. The ETC will validate additional commercial assays and perform analysis as requested by investigators.
We offer a Luminex LX-200 for simultaneous measurement of multiple hormones in a single, small-volume sample. This platform is excellent for quantifying cytokines, cell signaling molecules, and disease markers. The most commonly requested assays are 29-plex and 37-plex NHP cytokine panels. We also offer custom cytokine panels designed specifically for your experiment.
The ETC has Shimadzu Nexera-LCMS-8050 liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Shimadzu Nexera-LCMS-8060 LC-MS/MS systems for steroid, small molecule, and peptide quantitation. By combining ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with next-generation triple quadrupole technology offered by the LCMS-8050 and the LCMS-8060, we can provide unparalleled sensitivity, precision, and throughput for our clients. We currently provide routine, affordable assays for over 15 analytes, including steroid hormones and nicotine metabolites, and will develop methods for other targets at investigator's request. Please contact us for more information on LC-MS/MS methods and pricing.
Many steroid hormones in serum or plasma can be extracted either by ethanol or ether for RIA. While many of our extraction RIAs for steroids have been replaced with LC-MS/MS assays, we still offer this platform for analysis of deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone in multiple species.