Meso Scale Discovery Sector 6000 Imager

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds for the acquisition of a Meso Scale Discovery SECTOR 6000 Imager for the detection of biomarkers by direct sandwich immunoassay in single and multiplex formats. The Meso Scale Discovery biomarker detection technology is based on electrochemiluminescence, which allows uniform control of the detection reaction, enhanced sensitivity, and a large dynamic signal range. The requested instrumentation will meet the growing demand for detection of multiple biomarkers in small sample volumes for clinical and translational research involving infants and children. The requested instrument utilizes an ultra-low noise charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for rapid detection of signal generated in an electrochemiluminescent biomarker detection reaction. The instrument is capable of measuring a wide variety of analytes (hormones, cytokines, growth factors, disease markers) in a single, 4-, 7- or 10-plex/well format. The instrument will support the research of seven major projects and eight other projects and the instrument will be incorporated into the Translational Core Laboratory of the Clinical and Translational Research Center, which provides ongoing laboratory support for clinical and translational research conducted at CHOP. As part of the services offered by the Translational Core Laboratory, user fees will be collected to help defray the costs of consumables, reagents, and maintenance related to the instrument. The instrument will help to advance clinical and translational research in the following disease areas: congenital hyperinsulinism, type 1 diabetes, bone health in Crohn's disease and renal transplantation, adolescent obesity, pediatric type 2 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, the multiplex immunoassay platform will expand our capacity to provide analysis of different biomarker levels for the user community, and will enable us to significantly reduce the sample volumes needed for these analyses, a feature that is particularly important for infants and children. The proposed equipment will also expand our capability to design assays for new biomarkers, which is extremely important for clinical and translational research.