Rapidly evolving genomics technologies have driven remarkable research breakthroughs which are now beginning to explain the molecular basis for many human diseases as well as natural variation. The Genomics Shared Resource (GSR) of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center has remained abreast of these evolving methods by providing complementary and cutting-edge genomics services to a broad community of investigators. These services involve sequencing, hybridization and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. GSR staff members help investigators to design genomics experiments and generate high quality genomics data to support their basic and clinical research projects. This core laboratory primarily supports cancer research at Ohio State, but also routinely serves other research areas at Ohio State and at other institutions. In this S10 Shared Instrumentation Grant Program proposal, the GSR proposes to acquire a flexible, highly scalable, integrated microfluidics system that facilitates custom and/or high-throughput assays using various forms of PCR including quantitative PCR, end-point assays and digital PCR. This integrated system, called the Fluidigm Juno loader and BioMark HD, will allow the GSR to perform PCR-based assays for genotyping, quantitation of transcript expression levels including microRNAs and alternative RNA splicing, genomic DNA copy number changes, and even oligonucleotide-tagged proteins. A particular advantage of the requested system is that it is highly scalable, so the same instrument and experimental conditions for small pilot projects can be scaled up in a straightforward and simple way to hundreds of assays and many thousands of samples (or even more). This integrated Fluidigm system will allow for rapid and economical validation of data generated by other genomics platforms including next generation sequencing (NGS). Its addition to the GSR will support and enhance ongoing NIH- funded research projects. This is very likely to result in new insights into human diseases and thereby create new opportunities to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases and to improve human health.
The flexible PCR system requested in this application will enable researchers who are currently funded by NIH and other sponsors to use wide-ranging PCR assays for a few or many thousands of samples, to validate differentially expressed genes, genotype sequence variants, conduct digital PCR and assay copy number variation. The integrated new platform requested here will allow for economical and highly scalable research, ranging from small-scale projects up to assays of thousands of samples and hundreds of genetic targets. Some of the significant health issues addressed in these ongoing, funded research projects include studies of diverse cancers and hematological diseases, cardiovascular research, diabetes, differential responses to pharmacological agents (pharmacogenomics), neuromuscular disorders, and others.
