A Multimode Plate Reader System for Discovery and Innovation in Life Sciences Research

北不列颠哥伦比亚省大学(UNBC)拥有一个充满活力和创新的研究社区，包括我们由Donald Rix博士北方健康科学中心(NHSC)的四名首席研究员组成的多元化团队。所要求的设备是一台带过滤器的Synergy Neo2多模式平板读取器、双试剂注射器系统和一台计算机，这是其功能所必需的。这台仪器将取代我们目前已有12年历史的多板阅读器，该阅读器正在发生故障，将被安置在NHSC的开放空间实验室中。除了供我们的四个主要研究小组使用外，这些设备还将供UNBC的其他研究人员在各自的研究计划中使用，以及供卑诗省北部的当地公司和行业使用。该仪器及其附件将支持我们的NSERC Discovery研究计划继续取得成功，并允许进一步开发创新的分子和细胞技术，以发现生物系统中蛋白质、脂类和核酸的新功能，并揭开细胞如何改变其特征和功能的谜团。我们多样化的基于发现的研究计划涵盖了以下自然科学领域：哺乳动物系统中RNA结合蛋白的机制功能和mRNA衰变的酶学，前mRNA剪接机制，参与中枢神经系统细胞分化的分子相互作用，以及能量代谢内分泌调节的基本生物学机制。我们的联合研究小组在任何时候都至少由30名高素质的人员组成，他们使用分子技术，除了研究生物分子相互作用外，还经常涉及对细胞、组织和整个动物中生物分子的量化和监测。这些方法都需要每天使用所要求的仪器。该设备不仅将支持研究项目，还将支持我们现在和未来的本科生和研究生的大量论文项目。预计在未来5年，所请求的系统将直接支持至少100个HQP。获得所要求的仪器将使我们能够开发创新的方法，进一步促进我们对我们各自的生命科学研究领域的科学贡献。

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has a vibrant and innovative research community, including our diverse group of four Principal Investigators in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre (NHSC). The equipment requested is a Synergy Neo2 Multimode Plate Reader with filters, dual reagent injector system and a computer required for its functionality. This instrument will replace our current 12-year-old multiplate reader that is failing and will be housed in open-space laboratories in the NHSC. In addition to use by our four major research groups, the equipment will be available for use by other researchers at UNBC in their respective research programs, as well as to local companies and industries in northern BC. This instrument and its accessories will support the continued success of our NSERC Discovery research programs and allow further development of innovative molecular and cellular techniques to discover novel functions of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids in biological systems, as well as unravelling the mystery of how cells change their characteristics and function. Our diverse discovery-based research programs encompass the following fields of natural sciences: enzymology of mRNA decay and mechanistic function of RNA-binding proteins in mammalian systems, pre-mRNA splicing mechanisms, molecular interactions involved in cell differentiation in the central nervous system, and foundational biological mechanisms of the endocrine regulation of energy metabolism. Our combined research groups, comprising at least 30 highly qualified personnel at any one time, employ molecular techniques which often involve quantification and monitoring of biomolecules in cells, in tissues and in whole animals in addition to studying biomolecular interactions. These methods all require the use of the requested instrument on a daily basis. The equipment will support not only the research programs, but also a large number of thesis projects of our current and future undergraduate and graduate students. It is expected that the requested system will directly support at least 100 HQP over the next 5 years. Acquisition of the requested instrument will allow us to develop innovative methods to further advance our scientific contributions to each of our respective research fields in life sciences.