MRI: Acquisition of a Next Generation Sequencing System for Genomics Research and Training at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

MRI：马萨诸塞州洛厄尔大学购买用于基因组学研究和培训的下一代测序系统

• 批准号: 1429212
• 负责人: Seongkyu Yoon
• 金额: $ 41.76万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Lowell
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1429212&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Next; Generation; Sequencing

An award is made to the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) to acquire a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) system, which will provide UML faculty, students, staff and external community partners with current genomics instrumentation and training. The system centerpiece, an Illumina NextSeq 500 Desktop Sequencer, will significantly advance UML infrastructure for conducting innovative genomic-level research in biological engineering, evolutionary biology and environmental sciences. The Illumina instrument and associated equipment will meet an acute need for modern infrastructure to support genomics research and training at UML, where previously there was no DNA sequencing instrument on campus. The Illumina machine will also be incorporated into student-centered research, experiential coursework and outreach activities at UML to broaden participation in cutting-edge research and expand opportunities for students in professional training for biotechnology careers. Numerous UML students enter the regionally important biotechnology workforce, and the awarded Illumina instrument will strengthen the local economy by exposing students to modern sequencing technology. The award will enrich education at UML with the development of an NGS learning module that will be implemented into several undergraduate and graduate courses. A workshop dedicated to the use and application of the Illumina instrument will be developed for faculty, students and external users. An annual NGS research and educational symposium at UML will facilitate collaborations and attract new users of the instrument. The University of Massachusetts Lowell serves an ethnically and economically diverse student body and faculty employing the NGS system will recruit underrepresented minority and female students for participation in research involving use of the Illumina instrument. In addition, UML undergraduates in a Service Learning Genomics course will devise presentations on NGS and genomics to high school students. Accordingly, societal benefits of the project will include raising scientific literacy of the public, lowering barriers to scientific participation, and strengthening the regional economy.This award will establish a new Genomics Core Facility at UML, where there are 40 faculty and students conducting genome-focused research. The NGS system will considerably advance research in diverse disciplines, and projects employing the new Illumina instrument include those aimed at understanding: 1) trace element cellular metabolism; 2) venom evolutionary genomics; 3) microbial community structure; 4) metazoan phylogeny; 5) NGS assembly software performance; and 6) transcriptional control of immune cell development. These studies will utilize the Illumina instrument to perform a spectrum of techniques including: 1) targeted genome re-sequencing; 2) whole-transcriptome sequencing; 3) quantification of genome-wide expression levels; 4) sequencing of microbial DNA amplified from environmental sample; and 5) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to determine genome regulatory regions and DNA-protein interactions. Thus, the award will significantly expand research opportunities for UML faculty and students and enhance the intellectual environment supporting biological research.

麻省大学洛厄尔分校（UML）获得了下一代测序（NGS）系统，该系统将为UML的教师、学生、员工和外部社区合作伙伴提供当前的基因组学仪器和培训。该系统的核心是Illumina NextSeq 500桌面测序仪，它将显著推进UML基础设施，用于在生物工程、进化生物学和环境科学领域进行创新的基因组水平研究。Illumina仪器和相关设备将满足UML对现代基础设施的迫切需求，以支持基因组学研究和培训，此前该校校园内没有DNA测序仪器。Illumina机器也将被整合到以学生为中心的研究、体验式课程和UML的拓展活动中，以扩大对尖端研究的参与，并扩大学生在生物技术职业专业培训中的机会。许多UML学生进入了区域重要的生物技术劳动力，并且获得的Illumina仪器将通过向学生展示现代测序技术来加强当地经济。该奖项将通过开发NGS学习模块来丰富UML的教育，该模块将在几个本科和研究生课程中实施。将为教师，学生和外部用户开发一个专门用于使用和应用Illumina仪器的研讨会。UML的年度NGS研究和教育研讨会将促进合作并吸引该仪器的新用户。马萨诸塞大学洛厄尔分校的学生来自不同种族和经济背景，采用NGS系统的教师将招募少数族裔和女性学生参与涉及使用Illumina仪器的研究。此外，UML的服务学习基因组学课程的本科生将为高中生设计关于NGS和基因组学的演讲。因此，该项目的社会效益将包括提高公众的科学素养、降低科学参与的障碍、加强地区经济。该奖项将在UML建立一个新的基因组学核心设施，那里有40名教师和学生进行以基因组为重点的研究。NGS系统将极大地推动不同学科的研究，采用新的Illumina仪器的项目包括旨在了解微量元素细胞代谢的项目；2)毒液进化基因组学；3)微生物群落结构；4)后生动物系统发育；5) NGS装配软件性能；6)免疫细胞发育的转录调控。这些研究将利用Illumina仪器执行一系列技术，包括：1)靶向基因组重测序；2)全转录组测序；3)全基因组表达水平的量化；4)环境样品微生物DNA测序；5)染色质免疫沉淀测序以确定基因组调控区域和dna -蛋白相互作用。因此，该奖项将显著地扩展UML教师和学生的研究机会，并增强支持生物学研究的智力环境。