Acquisition of Microarray Instrumentation and a High Throughput Capillary Sequencer for Biological Research

在Frank van Breukelen博士的指导下，内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校（UNLV）获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持微阵列仪和毛细管测序仪的采购。这些仪器将允许在涵盖广泛生物学问题的研究项目中对基因和差异基因表达进行高通量表征。这些仪器将对进一步的研究项目产生深远的影响，包括动植物对应激的生理反应、发育生物学、神经生物学、行为生理学、生物信息学、物种相互作用、物种形成、生态系统功能和植物/微生物相互作用。微阵列容量的获得将允许在基因组水平上进行探索，并可能为未来的方向产生重要的新假设。新型高通量毛细管测序仪所带来的DNA测序能力的提高将极大地促进分子系统学和基础生物化学等不同领域的研究计划。各级的培训一直是联合国lv研究活动的主要组成部分，这些工具将进一步增加培训机会。本科生和研究生以及博士后将有机会接触到现代技术，这将使他们能够将这些重要的研究工具纳入他们的技能库。我们目前提供的课程（并正在计划额外的课程）旨在利用基因组学设施所支持的技术。我们已经并将继续积极鼓励代表性不足的群体参与我们的研究项目。南内华达州是美国增长最快的地区，内华达州大学的增长反映了这一点，两年内学生人数增加了18.5%。UNLV有机会成为该州经济多样化的中心，因为几百公里内没有类似的机构。作为一所研究型大学的进一步发展将为吸引高科技产业提供额外的资源。最后，额外的资源将加强目前NSF EPSCoR的努力，使UNLV的研究人员在联邦资助方面更具竞争力。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) under the direction of Dr. Frank van Breukelen for the partial support of the acquisition of a microarrayer and a capillary sequencing instrument. These instruments will allow for high throughput characterization of genes and differential gene expression in research programs covering a wide range of biological questions. These instruments will have profound effects on furthering research programs that include physiological responses to stress in plants and animals, developmental biology, neurobiology, behavioral physiology, bioinformatics, species interactions, speciation, ecosystem functioning, and plant/microbe interactions. The acquisition of microarray capacity will allow exploration at the genomic level and will likely generate significant new hypotheses for future directions. The increased capacity for DNA sequencing afforded by a new high throughput capillary sequencer will greatly enhance research programs in fields as divergent as molecular systematics and basic biochemistry. Training at all levels has always been a major component of research activities at UNLV and these instruments will further enhance training opportunities. Undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows will gain access to modern technologies that will allow them to incorporate these important research tools into their repertoire of skills. We currently offer courses (and are planning additional courses) targeted towards capitalizing on the technologies supported by the genomics facility. We have and will continue to actively encourage the participation of underrepresented groups in our research programs. Southern Nevada is the fastest growing region in the United States of America and UNLV's growth has reflected this with an 18.5% increase in student population in two years. UNLV has an opportunity to be an epicenter for a diversification of the State's economy since there are no equivalent institutions for several hundred kilometers. The further development of UNLV as a research university will provide additional resources to attract high tech industries. Finally, additional resources will augment current NSF EPSCoR efforts to make UNLV researchers more competitive for federal funding.