Advancing Cancer Research Through Next Generation Sequencing at Mays Cancer Center of UT Health San Antonio

项目摘要 本研究专家(以核心为基础的科学家)R50应用程序寻求对 NCI指定的梅斯癌症中心的下一代测序共享资源(NGSSR； 在德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校(UTHSA)工作。下一代测序(NGS) 是癌症基因组研究中最重要的技术进步之一。黎博士的使命通过 NGSSR将为MCC的癌症社区提供尖端基因组学技术。下一代社会保障体系 始建于2011年，是一个核心设施，专注于儿科癌症研究的基因组学。黎博士被聘为 一位高素质的基因组科学家领导NGS设施。2014年，核心被整合到巨蟹座 作为共享资源的中心支持赠款(CCSG)。自NGSSR成立以来，黎博士一直担任 指导这一备受推崇的共享资源的各个方面的发展(在 CCSG在2020年成功续签)。她制定并执行了技术评估的战略计划 和实施，培训和监督工作人员科学家，并制定所有标准操作程序。Dr。 Lai已经获得了两笔NIH S10共享仪器拨款，以显著增强基因组基础设施 在UTHSA，不断建立新的协议来扩展NGS服务，以支持多样化的癌症研究 申请。她继续协助调查人员进行NGS项目，范围从实验设计到 随后对实验结果进行解释，并建立了广泛的合作开发 有助于MCC研究的长期成功的综合分析和定制方案 程序。在她的科学领导下，NGSSR迅速成为MCC的重要组成部分 并从根本上改变了其成员的基因组研究环境。自2011年以来，NGSSR 癌症中心的用户几乎翻了两番。目前，NGSSR支持&gt；42个癌症中心成员和 18个由NCI资助的研究项目。赖博士对NGS技术的知识和她在以下方面的关键智力贡献 NGS在许多NCI资助的研究项目中的应用已得到广泛认可(见支持信)， NGSSR为100多种出版物撰稿，其中许多是在高影响力的同行评议期刊上发表的。这 拟议的R50奖励将为NGS设施提供更稳定的财务基础，进一步集中赖博士的 致力于以癌症为导向的方法开发、应用创新和服务改进，并提供 她在癌症基因组学领域的职业发展机会更多。该奖项还将允许NGSSR 继续为MCC癌症提供尖端测序技术、服务、教育和培训 研究社区，为我们集水区独特的拉美裔人口提供更好的照顾。

Project Summary This Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) R50 application seeks support for Dr. Zhao Lai, Director of the Next-Generation Sequencing Shared Resource (NGSSR) in the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center (MCC; Ruben Mesa, PI) at the University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSA). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is one of the most significant technological advances in cancer genome research. Dr. Lai’s mission through the NGSSR is to provide the cutting-edge genomics technology to the cancer community of MCC. The NGSSR began in 2011 as a core facility with a focus on genomics of pediatric cancer research. Dr. Lai was recruited as a highly qualified genomics scientist to lead the NGS facility. In 2014, the core was integrated into the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) as a Shared Resource. As the NGSSR Director since its inception, Dr. Lai has guided the development of every aspect of this highly regarded Shared Resource (scored “Outstanding” in the successful CCSG renewal in 2020). She has developed and executed strategic plans for technology assessment and implementation, trained and supervised staff scientists, and created all standard operating procedures. Dr. Lai has secured two NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation grants to significantly enhance the genomic infrastructure at UTHSA, continuously established new protocols to expand NGS services to support diverse cancer research applications. She continues to assist investigators NGS projects ranging from experimental design through subsequent interpretation of experimental results, and establishes the extensive collaboration to develop integrative assays and customized protocols that contribute to the long-term success of the MCC’s research program. Under her scientific leadership, the NGSSR has quickly become an essential component in the MCC and fundamentally transformed the genomics research environment for its members. Since 2011, the NGSSR’s Cancer Center users have nearly quadrupled. Currently, the NGSSR supports >42 Cancer Center members and 18 NCI-funded research projects. Dr. Lai’s knowledge of NGS technology and her key intellectual contribution to NGS applications in many NCI-funded research projects have been widely recognized (see Letters of Support), with the NGSSR’s contributions to over 100 publications, many in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. This proposed R50 award will provide a more stable financial basis for the NGS facility, further concentrate Dr. Lai’s efforts on cancer-oriented methodology development, application innovation, and service improvement, and offer her more opportunities in career development in cancer genomics. This award will also allow the NGSSR to continue providing cutting-edge sequencing technology, services, education, and training to MCC cancer research community to provide better care for the unique Hispanic population in our catchment area.