Molecular Detection and Diagnostics Core

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT (Molecular Detection and Diagnostics Core) The Tulane COBRE for Clinical and Translational Research in Cardiometabolic Diseases Phase 2 application aims to further develop and strengthen the clinical and translational research infrastructure at Tulane University and to continuously expand and support a critical mass of investigators with expertise in clinical and translational research in cardiometabolic diseases. The newly proposed Molecular Detection and Diagnostics Core (MDDC) will support the Research Project Leaders (RPLs), Pilot Project Leaders (PPLs), other COBRE investigators and collaborators at Tulane University by providing cutting-edge instruments, innovative technologies and methodologies, and expertise in multidisciplinary research including biochemistry, biomedical engineering, analytical chemistry, proteomics, nanotechnology, and mass spectrometry (MS) to advance their clinical and translational research in the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiometabolic disease. The MDDC will develop and adapt integrated nanotechnology-based strategies and other innovative technologies to identify novel biomarkers for early disease detection, prognostic evaluation, and the real-time monitoring of treatment responses as well as to understand the molecular mechanisms of cardiometabolic disease. The MDDC seeks to catalyze research that spans the analytical chemistry-biology interface, empowering investigators to identify and solve important interdisciplinary research questions in the clinical and translational sciences of cardiometabolic disease. Based on our team's expertise, the MDDC will provide COBRE investigators with training and services in state-of-the-art analytical technologies such as MS and microarray-based proteomics and organ-on-a-chip, among others, for the analysis of complex proteomes of tissue and biofluid samples. The MDDC will also identify appropriate existing analytical methods as well as adapt newly developed methods, often not available in the form of mature technologies. The MDDC will be housed within the Tulane University Center for Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, which has been well established for infectious and chronic disease research. During the COBRE Phase 2, the MDDC will provide cutting-edge instruments and methodological support for RPLs of Projects 2 and 3 to conduct their individual research projects. In addition, the MDDC will provide expert consultation and state-of-the-art technologies for RPLs of Projects 1 and 4 to develop R01 applications to further investigate molecular mechanism of APOL1 on chronic kidney disease progression and potassium intake on blood pressure reduction. The proposed MDDC will enhance the interactions and collaborations among COBRE, non-COBRE and external investigators involved in molecular studies of cardiometabolic disease. Since the MDDC is a critical component of the COBRE program, our long-term goal is to grow MDDC into a sustainable resource that serves all phases of translational research, from basic science to clinical science to population science at Tulane University by providing a broad range of state-of-the-art cellular and molecular analytical services.