Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has a vibrant and innovative research community, including our diverse group of four Principal Investigators in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre (NHSC). The equipment requested is a Synergy Neo2 Multimode Plate Reader with filters, dual reagent injector system and a computer required for its functionality. This instrument will replace our current 12-year-old multiplate reader that is failing and will be housed in open-space laboratories in the NHSC. In addition to use by our four major research groups, the equipment will be available for use by other researchers at UNBC in their respective research programs, as well as to local companies and industries in northern BC. This instrument and its accessories will support the continued success of our NSERC Discovery research programs and allow further development of innovative molecular and cellular techniques to discover novel functions of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids in biological systems, as well as unravelling the mystery of how cells change their characteristics and function. Our diverse discovery-based research programs encompass the following fields of natural sciences: enzymology of mRNA decay and mechanistic function of RNA-binding proteins in mammalian systems, pre-mRNA splicing mechanisms, molecular interactions involved in cell differentiation in the central nervous system, and foundational biological mechanisms of the endocrine regulation of energy metabolism. Our combined research groups, comprising at least 30 highly qualified personnel at any one time, employ molecular techniques which often involve quantification and monitoring of biomolecules in cells, in tissues and in whole animals in addition to studying biomolecular interactions. These methods all require the use of the requested instrument on a daily basis. The equipment will support not only the research programs, but also a large number of thesis projects of our current and future undergraduate and graduate students. It is expected that the requested system will directly support at least 100 HQP over the next 5 years. Acquisition of the requested instrument will allow us to develop innovative methods to further advance our scientific contributions to each of our respective research fields in life sciences.