Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

<p>Our research interests focus on the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new peptides and small molecules, with the purpose to interrogate biological targets, usually proteins, and gain a better understanding on their structure and function. The expertises assembled by the co-applicants include the various steps of design, molecular modeling, synthesis, structural analysis and use as tools in vitro and in vivo.</p> <br /> This proposal is for the purchase of a high capacity centrifugal evaporator to support the research of six highly productive research teams. More specifically, the equipment will support the research of Eric Marsault (medicinal chemistry), Brigitte Gu&eacute;rin (imaging, medicinal chemistry), Yves Dory (supramolecular and medicinal chemistry), Pierre Lavigne (structural biology),&nbsp; Rafael Najmanovich (bioinformatics) and Philippe Sarret (pharmacology). Owing to its diversity of expertise, the group developed numerous interdisciplinary collaborations in academia and with companies. All the researchers are members of the Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke (IPS) and professors at Universit&eacute; de Sherbrooke, which fosters a strong interdisciplinary and collaborative research culture based initially on chemistry and pharmacology as well as other disciplines.<br /> <br /> Thanks to contributions from the NSERC RTI program (peptide synthesizer in 2012, UPLC-MS in 2013), we are well equiped to design, synthesize, analyze and purify molecules to support our research. However, the capacity to isolate the compounds central to its research is very limiting and represents a major issue. The requested equipment is the last and weakest link of the chain to synthesize, analyze, purify and isolate small molecules and peptides in support of the proposed research programs. Acquisition of a high capacity evaporator is critical to implement the research programs currently funded by NSERC, as well as collaborative efforts with industry. It will also be critical to build a Qu&eacute;bec-wide chemical library of small molecules.<br /> <p> </p>