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

Ultracentrifugation is a standard technique in biological research used to identify and purify intracellular organelles, assemblies, biological membranes, and other molecules using a variety of different sophisticated methods. All of these methods use an ultracentrifuge to subject complex samples of biological material to extremely high centrifugal forces; on the order of 100,000 times the force of gravity. These samples are held in rotors which are designed to hold tubes of the proper size and configuration. Seven research groups in the Biology Department of Concordia University routinely require ultracentrifugation. Consequently, the single ultracentrifuge in the department is heavily used; running nearly continuously on 95% of weekdays (and nights) and 50% of weekends throughout the year. The few rotors are decades-old and shared with other departments. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a second common-use ultracentrifuge and new rotors in the Biology Department.