Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Microplate readers are foundational instruments for modern experimental biology, enabling automated, multiplexed, and kinetic spectrophotometric measurements. The most advanced readers now incorporate multimode optics for ultrasensitive readouts of absorbance, luminescence, and fluorescence. However, financial constraints have severely limited the opportunities for research groups to equitably access these crucial analytical instruments. This proposal seeks to acquire an advanced multimode microplate reader to support the early career research programs of Drs. Joshua G. Pemberton and Thomas A. DeFalco, two recent hires within the Department of Biology at Western University (WU). Dr. Pemberton's recently-established laboratory focuses on the complex spatial regulation of lipid metabolism in eukaryotic cells, leveraging innovative molecular techniques to selectively investigate subcellular membrane lipid abundance in real-time. This includes specific expertise in the design of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensors that require cutting-edge platforms capable of live-cell measurements, which underscores the absolute necessity of the requested multimode reader for his fundamental research. Similarly, Dr. DeFalco's laboratory investigates receptor kinase (RK) signal transduction pathways in plants, focusing on how receptor-coupled signalling systems mediate responses to environmental stresses. The requested instrument will enable detailed analysis of intracellular signalling pathways in response to diverse stimuli, providing fundamental insights into plant cell functions and potentially informing novel strategies to engineer enhanced crop resistance. Drs. DeFalco and Pemberton emphasize the importance of the requested multimode reader to support daily research activities and the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP), who will gain valuable skills in biophysical assay design and kinetic data analysis. This essential analytical platform will be managed through an online reservation system, ensuring equitable access and efficient usage. A shared commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) will be upheld by fostering an inclusive training environment and ensuring representation of equity-deserving groups among HQP. The acquisition of this equipment is essential for the immediate research needs of the Co-Applicants and broader scientific community at WU, facilitating exciting new collaborations and enhancing overall research capacity. Delays in acquiring this urgently needed equipment will significantly hinder the training capacities of our emerging laboratories and prevent the implementation of critical NSERC-funded research projects, directly affecting our abilities to attract top trainees and continue to secure external funding. The requested multimode reader is vital for advancing our early career research programs and facilitating the development of future academic leaders in the life sciences.