Acquisition of Instrumentation for a Genomics Facility in Support of the URI Environmental Biotechnology Initiative

罗德岛大学获得了一笔赠款，用于购买自动DNA测序仪和配套设备。罗德岛大学的环境生物技术倡议（EBI）旨在通过研究、教学和推广来促进该机构的生物技术发展。为EBI设想了四个中心设施-成像，基因组学和蛋白质组学，转基因和生物信息学。这笔拨款将通过提供资金购买DNA测序仪和用于样品制备的辅助设备来建立URI基因组学设施。此外，支持聘请研究助理来管理和运营该设施的资金由该奖项和罗德岛大学的配套资金提供。仪器和研究助理将支持目前资助的三位首席研究员（pi）和八个其他主要用户在大学三个不同学院的五个不同部门的研究活动。获资助的研究项目包括：莱姆病病原体（伯氏疏螺旋体）基因调控的研究，鳗弧菌（养殖鲑鱼和其他鱼类的主要细菌病原体）基因调控的研究，纳拉甘西特湾细菌物种演替的测定，深海生物圈微生物的鉴定，鱼类渗透调节分子机制的调节的测定，鉴定栖息在鲑鱼胃肠道中的微生物，以及选定的海洋鱼类（如黑线鳕和长尾鳕）的种群遗传学。基因组学设施的建立将允许用户指导的DNA测序，比目前基于uri的研究人员更快地周转和更低的成本，这些研究人员被迫与其他学术或商业测序设施签订合同。预计URI的许多其他调查人员也将利用这一设施。在DNA水平上研究生命的能力已经从根本上改变了生命科学研究的几乎每一个方面。自动化DNA测序仪提供的高样品通量使研究人员能够解决有关遗传多样性和基因调控的问题，这些问题仅在几年前是无法接近的。基因组学设施还将在培训学生掌握最先进的研究方法和科学调查艺术方面发挥不可或缺的作用。研究助理将与感兴趣的教师合作，开发和完善分子生物学的实验室练习，包括用这些资金购买的DNA测序仪的理论和实践。此外，预计收购Genomics Facility将提高吸引新研究生的能力。多年来，大学一直积极招收来自弱势群体的学生，以提高生物科学研究生课程中这类学生的数量和质量。这一支持所有学生的研究培训的核心设施的可用性预计将加强来自代表性不足群体的学生的征聘和留用。改进的研究基础设施和培训机会的结合将使URI的教师能够更好地竞争研究资金、新教师和学生。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Rhode Island to acquire an automated DNA sequencer and supporting equipment. The Environmental Biotechnology Initiative (EBI) at the University of Rhode Island was developed to promote biotechnology at the institution through research, teaching, and outreach. Four central facilities are envisioned for the EBI - Imaging, Genomics and Proteomics, Transgenics, and Bioinformatics. This grant award will establish the URI Genomics Facility by providing funds for the acquisition of a DNA sequencer and ancillary equipment dedicated for sample preparation. Additionally, funds to support the hire of a Research Associate to manage and operate the facility are provided by this award and matching funds from the University of Rhode Island. The instrumentation and Research Associate will support the currently funded research activities of the three Principal Investigators (PIs) and eight other major users in five separate departments in three different colleges at the university. The funded research projects of the PIs include: studies of gene regulation in the causative agent of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), studies of gene regulation in Vibrio anguillarum (a major bacterial pathogen of farmed salmon and other fish), determination of the bacterial species succession of Narragansett Bay, identification of the microbes that inhabit the deep ocean biosphere, determination of the regulation of the molecular mechanisms of osmoregulation in fish, identification of the microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of salmon, and population genetics of selected marine finfish (e.g., haddock and tautog). The establishment of the Genomics Facility will allow user directed DNA sequencing with more rapid turnaround and lower costs then is presently available to URI-based investigators, who are forced to contract with other academic or commercial sequencing facilities. It also is anticipated that numerous other investigators at URI will make use of the facility.The ability to study life at the DNA level has fundamentally changed almost every aspect of research in the life sciences. The high sample throughput afforded by automated DNA sequencers allows researchers to address questions concerning genetic diversity and gene regulation that were unapproachable only a few years ago. The Genomics Facility also will play an integral role in training our students in state-of-the-art research methodologies and the art of scientific investigation. The Research Associate will work with interested faculty to develop and refine laboratory exercises in molecular biology that include the theory and practice of the DNA sequencer purchased with these funds. Additionally, it is anticipated that the acquisition of Genomics Facility will enhance the ability to attract new graduate students. URI has actively engaged in the recruitment of students from under-represented groups for some years to enhance the number and quality of such students in our graduate programs in the biological sciences. The availability of this core facility to support the research training of all students is expected to enhance recruitment and retention of students from under-represented groups. The combination of improved research infrastructure and training opportunities will enable URI faculty to better compete for research funds, new faculty, and students.