Robotics and data storage for high content screening

描述(由申请人提供)：基于图像的细胞群体自动筛选(高内容筛选或HCS)作为阐明细胞网络和途径以及革命性药物发现的工具具有巨大的潜力。已经有工具可以单独敲除人类基因组中的约21,000个基因。组合化学正在产生大量具有治疗用途潜力的小化合物库。基于图像的分析允许深入了解基因敲除或药物治疗的特定影响，而通常用于高通量筛查(HTS)的基于低分辨率强度的分析无法实现这些效果。因此，HCS对于快速发展治疗策略和扩大我们对基本疾病机制的理解将是必不可少的。德克萨斯大学西南医学中心最近购买了BD Path 855自动化HCS平台，这将是达拉斯/沃斯堡大都会园区内第一台此类仪器。然而，现有资金不足以购买最佳利用新文书所需的几件辅助设备。在这一应用中，我们要求机器人进行自动板材装载，以允许无人值守24小时使用该仪器。我们还要求提供一套数据存储设备，以适应在HCS屏幕期间产生的大量数据。最后，我们正在请求一个用于图像和数据分析的离线工作站。公共卫生相关性：项目叙事基于图像的细胞群体筛选具有巨大的潜力，可以作为一种工具，通过功能基因组学阐明细胞网络和途径，并使药物发现发生革命性变化。我们最近为我们的筛查设施购买了一台基于图像的筛查仪器(BD Path 855)。在这一应用中，我们要求机器人进行自动板材装载，以允许无人值守24小时使用该仪器。我们还要求提供一套数据存储设备，以适应在HCS屏幕期间产生的大量数据。最后，我们正在请求一个用于图像和数据分析的离线工作站。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Automated image-based screening of cell populations (high content screening or HCS) has huge potential as a tool for elucidating cellular networks and pathways and to revolutionize drug discovery. Tools exist to knockdown individually the ~21,000 genes in the human genome. Combinatorial chemistry is producing vast libraries of small compounds with potential for therapeutic use. Image-based assays permit insights into the specific effects of gene knockdowns or drug treatments that are not possible with the lower resolution intensity-based assays commonly used for high throughput screening (HTS). Thus, HCS will be essential for the rapid development of therapeutic strategies and for expanding our understanding of fundamental disease mechanisms. UT Southwestern Medical Center has recently purchased the BD Pathway 855 automated HCS platform, which will be the first such instrument on any campus in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. However, the funding available was insufficient to purchase several ancillary pieces of equipment that are needed to make the best use of the new instrument. In this application, we are requesting robotics for automated plate loading to permit unattended 24-hour use of the instrument. We are also requesting a suite of data storage devices to accommodate the high volume of data produced during HCS screens. Finally, we are requesting an offline workstation for image and data analysis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Project Narrative Automated image-based screening of cell populations has huge potential as a tool for elucidating cellular networks and pathways by functional genomics and to revolutionize drug discovery. We have recently purchased an image-based screening instrument (BD Pathway 855) for our screening facility. In this application, we are requesting robotics for automated plate loading to permit unattended 24-hour use of the instrument. We are also requesting a suite of data storage devices to accommodate the high volume of data produced during HCS screens. Finally, we are requesting an offline workstation for image and data analysis.