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

Our research is mainly concerned with the development of novel bioanalytical approaches for (i) elucidating the molecular mechanisms of diseases and (ii) engineering new mechanism-based "smart" small-molecule ligands (smart diagnostic probes and smart drug leads). One of the major tools in this research is Kinetic Capillary Electrophoresis (KCE), our invention, which is dubbed an Analytical Swiss Army knife due to a variety of applications it can uniquely facilitate. One of the major drawbacks of conventional small-molecule ligands is their "unpredictable" kinetics and thermodynamics of binding to their targets. This limitation is a result of inherent limitations of the existing methods for ligand development. Using KCE as a conceptual platform, we have recently invented two homogeneous ligand-selection methods (called NECEEM or non-equilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures and ECEEM or equilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures). The new methods allow the development of "smart" ligands - ligands with desired parameters. The new methods promise to revolutionize the area of small-molecule ligand development. This grant proposal requests monetary support for purchasing equipment, which will be an instrumental platform for the KCE-based technology for the development of smart small-molecule ligands. The proposed equipment is pivotal to our entire research program, which currently involves 6 graduate students and 4 PDFs. If the laboratory does not get this equipment in 2008, a large part of the generously-supported by NSERC research program will be virtually stalled and training of HQP in this dynamic research area will be severely affected.