Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
York University
$150,000.00
An Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Characterizing the Affinity and Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Interactions
FY 2024-25
Summary
Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is powerful biophysical technique for measuring the affinity and thermodynamic parameters of binding interactions. This technique is especially useful as it is "label-free", none of the molecules involved need to be tagged or modified in any way in order to quantify binding. The requested ITC instrument is a vital component to the research program of four faculty members at York University who will use ITC methods in a wide range of biochemical applications from studying the function of DNA aptamers by looking at their interaction with small molecules and applying this information to design more selective and sensitive aptamers for use in biosensing; to studying the association of proteins involved in neuronal function; to biosensor optimization for single cell analysis; to verifying drug-target hits identified from DNA encoded library screens. The requested instrument is to replace a 22-year-old ITC instrument in the Johnson lab that is no longer functional and, because of its age, is not reparable. No instrument with similar capabilities as ITC is available at York which makes the acquisition of this instrument absolutely essential to the research and training programs of the applicants. The inability to obtain the proposed equipment will stall the highly productive research programs of four research groups and stop the progress of their graduate student's thesis work.
All current (21) and future highly qualified personnel (HQP), from the four different research laboratories will be trained in the use of this state-of-the-art instrument and be able to take advantage of this valuable biophysical method. ITC instruments are widely used in industrial settings such as biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry where they are used to study biomolecular interactions. Experience in utilizing this instrument will enable the HQPs to fit in well in this sector. For HQP continuing their careers in academia, experience with ITC applications will serve a wide range of potential research programs.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2025-00449
Name nom
Johnson, Philip
Department département
Chemistry
Organization id
38
Institution établissement
York University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2025
Award amount
150000
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Group fr
RECHERCHE AXÉE SUR LA DÉCOUVERTE
Committee code
1601
Committee name en
Genes, Cells and Molecules (RTI)
Committee name fr
Gènes, cellules et molécules (OIR)
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
5402
Research subject group en
Biochemistry
Research subject group fr
Biochimie
Research subject en
Nucleic acids
Research subject fr
Acides nucléiques
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
An Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Characterizing the Affinity and Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Interactions
Keywords
isothermal titration calorimetry; calorimetry; aptamers; ligand binding; dna-small molecule interactions; protein-protein interactions; dna encoded libraries; biomolecular interactions
Application summary
Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is powerful biophysical technique for measuring the affinity and thermodynamic parameters of binding interactions. This technique is especially useful as it is "label-free", none of the molecules involved need to be tagged or modified in any way in order to quantify binding. The requested ITC instrument is a vital component to the research program of four faculty members at York University who will use ITC methods in a wide range of biochemical applications from studying the function of DNA aptamers by looking at their interaction with small molecules and applying this information to design more selective and sensitive aptamers for use in biosensing; to studying the association of proteins involved in neuronal function; to biosensor optimization for single cell analysis; to verifying drug-target hits identified from DNA encoded library screens. The requested instrument is to replace a 22-year-old ITC instrument in the Johnson lab that is no longer functional and, because of its age, is not reparable. No instrument with similar capabilities as ITC is available at York which makes the acquisition of this instrument absolutely essential to the research and training programs of the applicants. The inability to obtain the proposed equipment will stall the highly productive research programs of four research groups and stop the progress of their graduate student's thesis work.
All current (21) and future highly qualified personnel (HQP), from the four different research laboratories will be trained in the use of this state-of-the-art instrument and be able to take advantage of this valuable biophysical method. ITC instruments are widely used in industrial settings such as biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry where they are used to study biomolecular interactions. Experience in utilizing this instrument will enable the HQPs to fit in well in this sector. For HQP continuing their careers in academia, experience with ITC applications will serve a wide range of potential research programs.
