Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Microorganisms possess the ability to produce small molecules with beneficial applications for society, including antibiotics, anti-cancer agents, insecticides, and herbicides. Additionally, some microbial small molecules play a significant role in the development of crop diseases, leading to substantial economic losses for the Canadian agriculture industry. The ability to study and characterize these microbial small molecules will enhance our understanding of how microbial plant diseases occur and how they can be controlled. Furthermore, it has the potential to lead to the discovery of new antibiotics and other compounds with valuable applications in agriculture and human/veterinary medicine. The requested funding will support critical upgrades to a high-performance liquid chromatography system used to detect, quantify, and purify microbial small molecules from complex mixtures. Additionally, the funding will be used to purchase a centrifugal vacuum concentrator necessary for processing samples for microbial small molecule analysis and purification. This equipment is essential for the work of two NSERC-funded research labs in the Department of Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Moreover, it will provide hands-on training in technical skills, preparing trainees for careers in academic, government, or industry research. Importantly, the equipment will help foster a diverse and inclusive research environment by creating new opportunities for collaboration among trainees and other scientists. It will also promote the development of transferable skills such as communication, project management, teamwork, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving, all of which are highly sought after in various professions.