High Capacity Freeze-dryer for Interdisciplinary and Interdepartmental Research

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This grant will support the purchase of one high-capacity multi-purpose freeze-dryer for interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research. The Depts. of Biology and Geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) have a vibrant and productive group of faculty and HQP who together integrate questions that link genes to ecosystems, while working on organisms as diverse as cyanobacteria, plants, fungi, insects and mammals. Many research programmes in our departments require the long-term preservation of biological samples that include oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins, secondary metabolites, soil, fungal cells, animal and plant tissues. Freeze-drying (or lyophilizing) provides the best long-term preservation of these samples because it gently dries thermally sensitive materials at low temperature and pressure by sublimation. Based on the essential nature and urgent need of this equipment, eight researchers across two departments have collaborated on this proposal, with additional financial, logistical and technical support offered by the Dept. of Biology and the Office of the Vice-Principal of Research. This equipment will be essential for the successful training and productivity of HQP in each of the PIs labs. We anticipate that over a 20 year lifespan of the freeze-dryer, this equipment will contribute to the training of >800 HQP.