Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional)

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PROJECT SUMMARY: The evolutionarily conserved Wnt pathway plays a critical role during metazoan development and stem cell maintenance in the adult. The primary focus of my lab is to understand the biological function of the Wnt signaling pathway by deciphering its molecular mechanism and identifying new Wnt components. Our ultimate goal is to use this information to understand how deregulation of the Wnt pathway can lead to Wnt-driven diseases in humans. Using tools of biochemistry, my lab has made breakthroughs in our fundamental understanding of Wnt signaling, including the development of the first biochemical system, the reconstitution of active purified proteins, and the development of the first mathematical model (Lee-Heinrich model). We currently utilize a portable C-DiGit blot scanner in our lab that is slow, laborious to use, and lack the sensitivity required for many of our experiments. In addition, the imaging instruments in our department are on a separate floor and are often heavily used, and we are unable to access these instruments in a timely manner. The issues of the limitations of the instrumentation in our lab and the lack of departmental accessibility have significantly hampered our ability to perform our research in a timely manner. Thus, we are requesting funds to purchase a LICOR Odyssey M imaging system, which exhibits greater throughput, sensitivity, and dynamic range, to overcome these barriers. In addition, this new machine will allow us to perform a new technique: In-Cell Westerns, which will improve improved the reproducibility and dynamic range of our protein measurements.