Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Molecular imaging of living systems such as cells is an important tool that researchers use in order to understand cellular processes, and the way in which potential therapeutic agents (or toxins) affect these processes. A particularly useful way of imaging cells is to track the light emitted from certain molecules inside the cell, which can provide dynamic information on cellular processes in both space and time. The specialized capabilities of the molecular imaging system requested will enable scientists to use emitted light from molecules to take snapshots and make molecular movies to learn ""how and why"" these agents work.Of particular interest for cancer therapy are compounds that can be turned on with light in a process called photodynamic therapy (PDT) to destroy tumours. Being able to control where and when the drug is on or off is key to minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissue and eliminating debilitating side-effects that are associated with chemotherapy. While promising, the technique suffers from the poor chemical characteristics of clinically-approved drugs for PDT. The requested molecular imaging system will facilitate the discovery of better agents by giving scientists the right tool for assessing and understanding how the drugs interact and function inside cells. It will be the first of its kind in the Maritimes and will provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience in techniques that are at the forefront of biotechnology and drug discovery. Each year more than 10 trainees in the McFarland, Thompson, and Jakeman research groups will become highly skilled in using this equipment, and more than 60 researchers (through local and international collaborations) will learn how to analyze and interpret molecular imaging data in support of their respective research programs.