Microarray Scanner and Accessories for MUSC

描述（由申请人提供）：通过使用DNA微阵列技术对基因表达进行高通量分析已经成为生物医学研究的有力工具。它的应用范围很广，从单核苷酸多态性的测序和表征，到生物或致病表型的诊断，以及生物样品的转录组分析。南卡罗来纳医科大学（MUSC） DNA微阵列和生物信息学设施成立于2001年，旨在为MUSC和其他南卡罗来纳机构的研究人员提供全面的基础设施，包括教师、支持人员、最先进的仪器和执行DNA微阵列分析所需的先进计算/统计分析资源。迄今为止，该设施已在30多个研究项目中实施，其中包括南卡罗来纳州18名美国国立卫生研究院资助的研究人员。然而，微阵列技术的新进展，对更高水平通量筛选的需求，以及我们目前的微阵列仪器即将过时，都需要购买新的仪器，以促进MUSC正在进行和未来的微阵列实验。本提案将概述当前微阵列技术对MUSC研究人员的重要性，MUSC现有微阵列仪器的局限性，以及更换该仪器以及增加额外技术能力的必要性。具体来说，要求拨款购买Affymetrix基因芯片扫描仪3000升级版和流体站450升级版。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): High throughput analysis of gene expression through the use of DNA microarray technology has become established as a powerful tool for biomedical research. Its applications are broad, ranging from sequencing and characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms, to diagnosis of biological or pathogenic phenotypes, and to the transcriptomic profiling of biological samples. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) DNA Microarray and Bioinformatics Facility was established in 2001 to provide investigators from MUSC and other South Carolina institutions with a comprehensive infrastructure comprised of faculty, support staff, state-of-the-art instrumentation and advanced computational/statistical analysis resources required to perform DNA microarray analysis. To date, this facility has been implemented in over 30 research projects, including those of 18 NIH-funded investigators in South Carolina. However, new advances in microarray technology, the demand for even higher levels of throughput screening, and the imminent obsolescence of our present microarray instrumentation necessitate the acquisition of new instrumentation in order to facilitate ongoing and future microarray experimentation at MUSC. This proposal will outline the current importance of microarray technology to MUSC investigators, the limitations of existing microarray instrumentation at MUSC, and the necessity for replacing this instrumentation as well as adding additional technical capabilities. Specifically, funds are requested for purchasing an Affymetrix GeneChip Scanner 3000 Upgrade and a Fluidics Station 450 Upgrade.