Tissue-based real-time assays elucidating biological dynamic
- Reference number
- SM07-0017
- Start and end dates
- 080101-100630
- Amount granted
- 660 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Uppsala University
- Research area
- Life Science Technology
Summary
This project aims at developing new tools for real-time molecular interaction analysis in tissue sections. It will provide assays that can stratify cancer patients based on differences in molecular properties and concentration of targets in these tissues. Since most cell-based assays used today are static end-point measurements, the mechanisms behind dynamic biological events are less well understood than other events. Ridgeview Instruments AB is developing LigandTracer, a semi automated instrument designed for real-time detection of protein-cell interactions using cultured cells. The idea in this research project is to replace the cultured cells with tissue: merging classical histology with real-time detection technology and thereby adding time resolution to the histology measurement. The current LigandTracer family requires modification to work adequately with tissue and is designated TissueTracer. In a first step, TissueTracer will be used for IHC assay development in order to gain knowledge and to establish a strong link to IHC specialists in the Human Protein Atlas program. In a later step, tissue from 50 colon cancer patients will be characterized in TissueTracer and the output will be compared to results obtained using classical methods. Since Ridgeview Instruments AB lack experience and suitable reagents, an interdisciplinary project team is being recruited. If funded the applicant will be part of this team as responsible for tissue assay development and qualification.
Popular science description
Ett problem vid traditionell analys av vävnadssnitt är att de inte ger en kvantitativ bild av proteinuttryck i cellerna. Genom att vidareutveckla ett befintligt instrument, framtaget för att analysera proteinuttryck i odlade celler, så vill vi i vävnadssnitt kunna studera interaktioner mellan molekyler, både kvantitativt och med god tidsupplösning. Vi kommer i projektet att på vävnad från cancerpatienter jämföra resultat erhållna med det nyutvecklade instrumentet och resultat från konventionella metoder som immunohistokemi. Utvecklandet kan ha positiva konsekvenser vid framtida analyser av vävnadsmaterial från patienter då en mer individualiserad behandling möjliggörs.