Acquisition of Microarray Instrumentation and a High Throughput Capillary Sequencer for Biological Research

在Frank van Breukelen博士的指导下，向内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校(UNLV)授予了一笔赠款，用于部分支持购置一台微型点样器和一台毛细管测序仪。这些仪器将允许在涵盖广泛生物学问题的研究计划中高通量地表征基因和差异基因表达。这些仪器将对进一步的研究项目产生深远的影响，这些研究项目包括植物和动物对应激的生理反应、发育生物学、神经生物学、行为生理学、生物信息学、物种相互作用、物种形成、生态系统功能和植物/微生物相互作用。获得微阵列能力将允许在基因组水平上进行探索，并可能为未来的方向产生重要的新假说。一种新的高通量毛细管测序仪提高了DNA测序能力，将极大地加强分子系统学和基础生物化学等领域的研究计划。各级培训一直是志愿人员方案研究活动的主要组成部分，这些工具将进一步增加培训机会。本科生和研究生以及博士后研究员将获得现代技术，使他们能够将这些重要的研究工具纳入他们的技能库中。我们目前正在提供旨在利用基因组学设施支持的技术的课程(并正在计划更多的课程)。我们已经并将继续积极鼓励代表不足的群体参与我们的研究计划。南内华达州是美利坚合众国增长最快的地区，UNLV的增长反映了这一点，学生人数在两年内增长了18.5%。联合国志愿人员组织有机会成为国家经济多样化的中心，因为在数百公里范围内没有类似的机构。联合国志愿人员组织作为研究型大学的进一步发展将提供更多的资源来吸引高技术产业。最后，额外的资源将加强目前NSF EPSCoR的努力，使UNLV研究人员在获得联邦资金方面更具竞争力。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) under the direction of Dr. Frank van Breukelen for the partial support of the acquisition of a microarrayer and a capillary sequencing instrument. These instruments will allow for high throughput characterization of genes and differential gene expression in research programs covering a wide range of biological questions. These instruments will have profound effects on furthering research programs that include physiological responses to stress in plants and animals, developmental biology, neurobiology, behavioral physiology, bioinformatics, species interactions, speciation, ecosystem functioning, and plant/microbe interactions. The acquisition of microarray capacity will allow exploration at the genomic level and will likely generate significant new hypotheses for future directions. The increased capacity for DNA sequencing afforded by a new high throughput capillary sequencer will greatly enhance research programs in fields as divergent as molecular systematics and basic biochemistry. Training at all levels has always been a major component of research activities at UNLV and these instruments will further enhance training opportunities. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows will gain access to modern technologies that will allow them to incorporate these important research tools into their repertoire of skills. We currently offer courses (and are planning additional courses) targeted towards capitalizing on the technologies supported by the genomics facility. We have and will continue to actively encourage the participation of underrepresented groups in our research programs. Southern Nevada is the fastest growing region in the United States of America and UNLV's growth has reflected this with an 18.5% increase in student population in two years. UNLV has an opportunity to be an epicenter for a diversification of the State's economy since there are no equivalent institutions for several hundred kilometers. The further development of UNLV as a research university will provide additional resources to attract high tech industries. Finally, additional resources will augment current NSF EPSCoR efforts to make UNLV researchers more competitive for federal funding.