One of the primary areas of focus in the Koch Institute is the development of new materials systems and biomedical devices for cancer prevention, detection and treatment. These systems underpin development of new approaches for biomarker detection, imaging modalities, and targeted therapies and vaccines. Center Members are exploring a wide range of materials to achieve these goals, and employ combinatorial development approaches to facilitate the discovery of new biomaterials and nanoformulations. State-of-the-art capabilities for high resolution and surface imaging and chemical and physical analysis are key tools to enable these studies. To fully characterize new materials, establish structure-property-function relationships, and facilitate subsequent rational design, we established the Nanotechnology Materials Core in 2012. In the previous competing renewal, the Core was approved for CCSG funding as an established Shared Resource. This Core integrates a range of advanced technologies including a state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging suite, which enables high resolution analyses of soft biomaterials and cellular ultrastructure. In the current funding period, the Core added a significant number of new capabilities and modified existing services, including: new EM sample preparation instruments; new EM and correlative light and EM imaging systems; new physical/chemical characterization capabilities; and upgrades to existing instruments. To best capitalize on these acquisitions, CCSG Developmental funds were used to support two Cryo-EM Specialists. Core service usage by Center Members has increased, from 14% at the time of the last renewal to 43% of Center Members, who account for 79% of Core service use and include investigators from all three Research Programs. Core staff has established cryo-EM workflows that are customized for Center Member research needs, and we seek continued, partial funding to support and stabilize the Research Specialists? efforts. In the upcoming period, the Nanotechnology Materials Core will continue to offer a wide range of state-of-the- art services to support Center Member research programs, and will evaluate emerging capabilities in the context of Center Member needs and interests. A primary focus will be on refining new workflows to take full advantage of newly acquired instrumentation. Other planned initiatives include: developing resources to support advanced image processing, visualization, quantitation and machine learning, and collaborating with other Cores to develop a monthly workshop series to support Center Members? access to imaging technology platforms and data analysis. This Shared Resource is essential to the success of the Koch Institute mission and provides exceptional value to the CCSG. The requested CCSG budget for Year 49 is decreased by 40.6% over the Core CCSG budget for the current period (Year 48), reflecting the increased fraction of support from user chargebacks as Core staff is moved from CCSG Developmental funds to CCSG Core funds.
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