ABI PRISM 7700 SEQUENCE DETECTOR

本申请的目的是为由圣路易斯大学健康科学中心的多名研究人员共享的ABI PRISM 7700序列检测器获得资金。这一仪器将使这些研究人员有可能将最近开发的“实时聚合酶链式反应”技术应用于他们目前资助的NIH项目。该设备将聚合酶链式反应和荧光监测的灵敏度与核酸靶标扩增的动态测量结合在一起。通过与这台机器内置的热循环仪和荧光仪集成的复杂计算机软件，生物医学研究的新方法成为可能。这项新技术的主要优势是：1)能够进行标准聚合酶链式反应机器无法实现的高定量聚合酶链式反应分析；2)高效率，但可快速筛选数百至数千个样本；3)可同时测量多达6个不同分子靶标的表达。圣路易斯大学或其附属机构目前没有为生物医学研究提供这些革命性新能力的现有设备。圣路易斯大学健康科学中心4个不同科室的至少21名不同的首席研究员将使用这种设备，这些研究人员目前在美国国立卫生研究院资助的拨款中担任主要职务。

The purpose of this application is to obtain funding for an ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detector to be shared by multiple investigators at Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center. This instrument will make it possible for these investigators to apply the recently developed technology of "Real Time PCR" to their currently funded NIH projects. This equipment combines the sensitivities of PCR and fluorescence monitoring with dynamic measurements of nucleic acid target amplification. Through sophisticated computer software integrated with the thermocycler and fluorometer built into this machine, new approaches to biomedical research become available. The major advantages of this new technology are I) the ability to perform highly quantitative PCR assays not possible with standard PCR machines, 2) high though put allowing rapid screening of hundreds to thousands of samples, and 3) simultaneous measurements of the expression of up to 6 different molecular targets. There is no existing equipment at Saint Louis University or its affiliated institutions that presently provide these revolutionary new capacities for biomedical research. This equipment will be used by 'at least 21 different principal investigators of currently funded NIH grants with primary appointments in 4 different Departments at Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center.