High-Throughput Ion Channel Screening Facility

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Ion channel proteins form pathways for passive movement of ions like potassium and sodium through otherwise impermeable cell membranes. Ion channels open in a controlled fashion, regulating the voltage across cell membranes, and generating rapid changes in this voltage to trigger events like nerve firing, muscle contraction, or beating of the heart. Our research groups aim to understand the function of diverse classes of ion channel proteins, and also to examine the effects of potential therapeutic compounds on ion channel proteins. We are developing a robotic ion channel screening facility to enable high throughput screening of compounds, regulatory proteins, and mutations, in multiple classes of ion channels. The requested device has been made available to us through a generous academic discount by the manufacturer. Ours will be the first installation of this device at a Canadian university, and one of only a few at universities in North America. This device will rapidly accelerate our assessment of ion channel function, and will also accelerate our ability to screen potentially effective compounds or genetic factors that modulate ion channel function and expression.