CRISPR Libraries & Viral Production

Custom CRISPR Libraries

Libraries Designed Around Your Biological Question

We work with you to design and construct CRISPR libraries optimized for your model system, screening strategy, and biological questions. Our workflows support both pooled and arrayed formats, with plasmid and lentiviral outputs ready for downstream applications.

Library Design

Custom pooled and arrayed designs, including genome-wide and targeted panels

Library Construction

High-quality, low-skew libraries

Viral Production

Lentiviral packaging and titration for pooled and arrayed guide libraries

Flexible Formats

Glycerol, plasmid and lentiviral outputs to support your downstream applications

Library Quality

More Uniform Libraries. More Possibilities.

Library skew reflects how unevenly guides are represented within a pooled library. High skew can leave some guides underrepresented or lost, increasing the cell numbers needed to maintain adequate library coverage.

The LGR Method

The LGR developed an optimized cloning approach that produces high-uniformity, low-skew CRISPR libraries, helping preserve guide representation at lower cell coverage.

1. Lower Skew

2. Better Representation

3. Few Cells Required

Read The Research

Beaker and Magnifying Glass Illustration

Coverage

More uniform representation helps ensure the intended guide population is carried forward into the experiment

Reproducibility

A well-represented library reduces one source of technical variability between screens.

Screen Performance

A high-quality starting library helps preserve the diversity needed to detect meaningful biological effects downstream

Built for Scale

The LGR has built and optimized automated workflows supporting high-throughput library construction, plasmid preparation, and lentivirus production.

Our integrated infrastructure supports:

Custom pooled and arrayed library design and construction
Targeted and genome-wide
CRISPR knockout, interference, and activation approaches
Single- and Dual-guide strategies
Glycerol, plasmid, and lentiviral outputs

Featured Capabilities

Beckman Echo acoustic dispensing
Hamilton STAR liquid handling
Automated colony picking
High-throughput plasmid preparation
Lentiviral production workflows
Integrated BSL-2 viral production & screening workcell

Advancing functional genomics research

Learn more about who we are, what we do, and why we do it.

Innovation Spotlight Speakers & Topics

Dr. Han Yang — UCSF

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

Dr. James Nuñez — UCB

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Dr. Anna Molofsky — UCSF

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

Dr. Roberto Zoncu — UCB

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Dr. Martin Kampmann — UCSF

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

Dr. Viviana Salinas-Rios — UCB

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Dr. Zev Gartner — UCSF

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

Dr. Michael McManus — UCSF

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Dr. Alanna Schepartz — UCB

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

Dr. Daniel Fletcher — UCB

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Existing Library Resources

Build From Established Resources

The LGR has developed pre-existing CRISPR library resources that may provide a starting point for customized pooled or arrayed libraries, reducing the need to design and construct every reagent set de novo.
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Available for academic use. Distribution pathways may vary by material and partner type. Contact Monica Ravanello, monica.ravanello@ucsf.edu with UCSF Innovation Ventures for commercial licensing opportunities.

Capabilities

Automation Suite for CRISPR Library Generation and Screening

Manually executing large-scale CRISPR screens is a labor-intensive process prone to human error. At the LGR, we've automated this process by leveraging advanced platforms to generate custom-made libraries at scale with reproducible standards. These libraries, combined with disease-relevant cell models in imaging-based CRISPR screens, yield data-rich phenotypic information that we pair with AI/ML-driven analysis. By providing these cutting-edge resources, we empower researchers to advance scientific discovery and improve drug development in ways that go beyond the capabilities of individual labs.

Custom library generation

Leveraging our collective expertise in automation, the LGR has developed a platform that streamlines the creation of custom arrayed and pooled genome-wide CRISPR guide libraries in both plasmid and lentiviral forms.

High throughput automation

We’ve automated processes starting with arrayed library cloning, followed by the generation of functionally titered arrayed lentivirus libraries, and culminating in high-content screening platforms that deliver high-dimensional phenotypic data.

Customized Screens with Sophisticated Readouts

Successful functional genomics experiments depend on selecting the right system for the biology. At LGR, we design and implement custom, CRISPR-based screening platforms by optimizing cell models, libraries, and assays. These platforms enable translation of complex genetic datasets into actionable therapeutic insights.

Biologically-relevant cell-based models

We develop disease-specific cell models using iPSC-derived systems to capture the underlying biology and mechanisms of action.

High-content imaging screens

We combine microscopy-based screening with advanced computational analysis to quantify morphological and intracellular changes, enabling deeper insight into disease biology.

Single-cell genetic perturbation capabilities

We integrate single-cell transcriptomic readouts with CRISPR perturbations to generate high-resolution functional maps of gene activity and cellular response.

Standardizing the CRISPR toolset

Manually executing large-scale CRISPR screens is a laborious, time-intensive process subject to human error. The LGR is investing in automation platforms that generate custom-made libraries at scale with reproducible standards. These libraries, when combined with disease-relevant cell models in imaging-based CRISPR screens, will yield data-rich phenotypic information that can be paired with AI/ML-based analysis. Such resources will provide opportunities to advance research and improve drug discovery in ways that would be challenging in individual labs.

Standardization of existing protocols

The LGR is establishing broadly applicable quality control metrics to develop the best in-field practices that can be shared and disseminated.

Improving guide libraries

Guide libraries are a critical component of CRISPR screens. By increasing the quality of libraries, we are able to decrease experiment cost and improve screen sensitivity.

CRISPR Libraries & Viral Production

Libraries Designed Around Your Biological Question

Custom pooled and arrayed designs, including genome-wide and targeted panels

High-quality, low-skew libraries

Lentiviral packaging and titration for pooled and arrayed guide libraries

Glycerol, plasmid and lentiviral outputs to support your downstream applications

More Uniform Libraries. More Possibilities.

The LGR Method

More uniform representation helps ensure the intended guide population is carried forward into the experiment

A well-represented library reduces one source of technical variability between screens.

A high-quality starting library helps preserve the diversity needed to detect meaningful biological effects downstream

Built for Scale

Beckman Echo acoustic dispensing

Hamilton STAR liquid handling

Automated colony picking

High-throughput plasmid preparation

Lentiviral production workflows

Integrated BSL-2 workcells

Featured Capabilities

Beckman Echo acoustic dispensing

Hamilton STAR liquid handling

Automated colony picking

High-throughput plasmid preparation

Lentiviral production workflows

Integrated BSL-2 workcells

Advancing functional genomics research

Innovation Spotlight Speakers & Topics

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

"Single-Cell Prime Editing Screen Maps the Transcriptional Effects of Disease-Associated Variants"

"CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Functional Genomics and Therapeutics"

Build From Established Resources

Capabilities

Automation Suite for CRISPR Library Generation and Screening

Customized Screens with Sophisticated Readouts

Standardizing the CRISPR toolset

What’s Next Starts With the Right Question.