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

We are requesting funds to purchase core equipment, incubators and a biological safety cabinet, to establish a cell culture facility for mammal and insect cell culture at Mount Allison University. This facility would be extensively used by the two principal applicants and others in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry, and by researchers at the Université de Moncton and NRC (Moncton). Each of the research groups proposing to use this facility has established a solid reputation in fields ranging from Drosophila epigenetics to the generation of novel chemical compounds. Assessing the potential of these findings, however, requires the use of mammalian cell culture. Access to a cell culture facility would allow us to: 1. ) Transfer findings from model organisms to mammal cells; 2. ) Assess the metabolomic effects of free radicals generated in photodynamic therapy 3. ) Assess the biocompatibility of materials developed using green chemistry methods; 4. ) Examine the effects of polyhydroxylated molecules and clinically important chemotheraputic agents on mammalian cell viability and apoptosis. Currently, we have no access to cell culture facilities other than through out-sourcing to commercial companies, which is financially prohibitive and provides no training for local HQPs. Thus, the expansion of the research programmes of the applicants and collaborators and the training of HQPs in standard cell culture technology is dependent on access to this equipment.