Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The requested nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) instrument will support a new research platform focused on developing and manufacturing engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) for therapeutic applications - the only and first of its kind in Canada. EVs drive intercellular communication in all species studied. They are membrane-encapsulated nanoparticles selectively loaded with RNAs/proteins that mediate signaling critical for diverse physiology. As such, EVs are basically nature's nanocarriers with the innate ability to selectively target cells/tissues, to avoid immunodetection and clearance by the liver/kidney, and to protect bioactive molecules during transfer. Realizing that EVs may be an important new pharmacologic modality, many scientists are developing strategies to genetically engineer EVs for a multitude of therapeutic applications. Most researchers in this field produce EVs using human mesenchymal stem cells, a platform that has many limitations that are slowing progress towards clinical use. To overcome these barriers, I instigated a unique multidisciplinary program that instead uses yeast (S. cerevisiae) - a powerhouse organism in biomanufacturing - to develop, test and produce engineered EVs for therapeutic applications. Ten HQP (1PDF, 5 PhD, 3 MSc, 1 BSc) in my lab and 4 collaborating groups are diligently working on complementary projects focused on discovery, applications and bioprocessing all reliant on NTA. Specifically, to meet global research standards, we need a NTA instrument to accurately count and measure sizes of newly engineered EVs. We must count EVs to test efficacy of EV bioactivities and to optimize bioproduction strategies. Measuring EV size is also critical as they must be 80 - 150 nm in diameter to be effective. Because it is essential, I currently pay to use a NTA instrument at McGill, 1 hour away from my lab at Concordia. High user fees, restricted access and long travel times associated with use are currently limiting our experiments, delaying critical research milestones, and disrupting collaborative studies. Obtaining our own instrument will immediately overcome all bottlenecks ensuring success of our program. This NTA instrument will be used daily by HQP, most of whom are enrolled in the NSERC CREATE-funded SynBioApps training program. This state-of-the-art resource will help ensure they leave with valuable skillsets needed to compete for high-quality jobs in related sectors (e.g. pharmaceutical industry). End users of research outcomes include scientists in academia or industry in need of better strategies to engineer EVs for therapeutic applications, a necessary step towards realizing this this important new pharmacological modality. Stakeholders include Canadians suffering from untreatable disorders. Supporting this program, by providing this essential instrument, will ensure that Canada competes in this emerging sector that is anticipated to revolutionize medicine in coming decades.