NIDDK/Baylor Biotech Center

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DESCRIPTION(provided by applicant): New methodologies for fabricating microarrays and novel detection systems have been developed recently in both industrial and academic settings in order to carry out new gene discovery, analysis of expression patterns during development and in pathological states. In general, the technologies that are currently available through the commercial ventures are very expensive, and beyond the reach of small university based research laboratory budgets. The overall goal of this proposal is to develop the infrastructure to enable NIDDK funded investigators to access gene expression microarray technologies. Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) has made an excellent beginning in the development of microarray technologies for gene expression analysis. An NIDDK/Baylor Biotechnology Center would afford us the opportunity to build the most comprehensive set of genes currently available for array and to develop unique, tissue specific sets of sequences that will serve more specialized needs of NIDDK investigators. The expertise to make cDNA microarrays and to analyze them exists at Baylor. However, the current capacity of the facilities at Baylor are limited and cannot effectively meet the needs of investigators. This proposal will address the requirements of NIDDK investigators by providing dedicated staff within shared resource cores who will carry forward the research aims of this group of investigators. The Steering Committee of the NIDDK/BCM Biotechnology Center will coordinate the processes of microarray production and analysis. The aims of this proposal include building cDNA microarrays of high density, enabling simultaneous measurement of a major portion of the genome in a single reaction. We will develop custom arrays representing a selected subset of the Unigene cDNA libraries that correspond to genes expressed in a particular organ/tissue in order to speed chip preparation and reduce cost. We will explore strategies for increasing sensitivity of the microarray reaction. We will integrate bioinformatic and biostatistical support for microarray analysis. We will develop means of sharing data, reagents and procedures within the Baylor community and nationally to enhance progress in this developing technology. We will provide training to faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students within Baylor College of Medicine in the laboratories of individuals funded by the NIDDK as well as to investigators regionally. We will solicit, select and support pilot projects that would benefit from the use of microarray gene expression profiling. Finally we will develop an administrative structure that will support the activities of the NIDDK/BCM Biotechnology Center and the NIDDK investigators that will utilize this facility.