PLATFORM: Exploring the Potential of Compartmentalisation for Selections and Ultra-high-throughput Screening

我们已经召集了一个来自剑桥、法国、以色列和美国的科学家团队，以开发微液滴在微流体中作为微反应器的用途。这些液滴（直径只有百万分之一米）相当于非常小的反应瓶，在其中可以进行微小规模的化学或生物反应。微滴在微流体系统中制造、操纵和分析，微流体系统由微通道网络组成，微滴在油流中流动。在一小时内制造和分析数百万个微滴将成为可能。剑桥率先将微滴用于生物学应用。我们目前的目标是保持我们在该领域的领先地位，同时扩大可以进行的实验范围，并展示该方法在生物学、化学和材料科学中的应用。平台赠款将用于资助我们在这一领域的扩大研究。它将在几个方面为我们现有的研究提供更大的灵活性，例如为有经验的研究人员提供额外的资金，让他们花更多的时间与我们在一起，或者资助那些有奖学金但没有额外资金支持他们的科学的科学家。特别是，它将使我们更容易派遣我们的研究人员到法国，以色列和美国的合作实验室学习技术。它还将允许我们对科学进行冒险，并开始探索性的新项目，特别是那些跨越正常科学边界的项目。

We have assembled a team of scientists from Cambridge, France, Israel and the USA to develop the use of microdroplets in microfluidics as microreactors. These droplets (which measure a few millionth of a metre across) are equivalent to very small reaction flasks in which chemical or biological reactions can be performed on a minute scale. The droplets are made, manipulated and analysed in microfluidic systems, consisting of networks of microscopic channels through which the droplets flow in a stream of oil. It will be possible to make and analyse millions of droplets in an hour.Cambridge has pioneered the use of microdroplets for biological applications. Our current ambition is to maintain our lead in the area, while at the same time expanding the range of experiments that can be performed, and showing that the methodology has applications across biology and into chemistry and material sciences. The Platform grant will be used to fund our expanding research in this area. It will provide greater flexibility in our existing research in several ways, for example by providing extra funds for experienced researchers to spend more time with us, or to fund scientists who come with fellowships but no extra money to support their science. In particular it will make it easier for us to send our researchers to learn techniques in collaborating laboratories in France, Israel and the USA. It will also allow us to be adventurous with our science and start exploratory new projects, especially ones that cross normal scientific boundaries.