Saturday, September 7, 2024
9/7/2024
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Genomics Research and Technology Hub (GRT Hub), the sole UCI genomics shared resource, is applying for support to purchase a Hamilton LiquidScan NGS STAR (STAR). The GRT Hub was founded in 1999 and has served the campus for microarray, DNA genomic analysis and mapping, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, and most recently multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics. Although physically located in the School of Medicine, the GRT Hub is a short walk from all user schools on the UCI campus. In the last fiscal year, the GRT Hub had $2.13 M in service recharges, the vast majority of which were to UCI investigators. The requested STAR system will automate significant aspects of these next generation sequencing and beadarray workflows, thus providing improved accuracy and reproducibility while relieving the stress of manual tasks currently performed by trained staff. The STAR system will be located within the existing controlled environment GRT Hub space. This workflow modernization is particularly critical with recent increases in throughput for both short- and long-read sequencing platforms and the generous planned UCI campus support for acquisition of Revio and NovaSeq X Plus in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Hamilton is an acknowledged leading manufacturer of robotic systems. The basic unit, the Hamilton STAR, has throughput capabilities for single samples with needle or tip loading and single up to 96 well parallel sample processing. Although every immediate workflow has associated programs, including long and short read sequencing and beadarray as well as a physical module for liquid cell and extracellular vesicle biomarkers, it is also readily programmable. The inclusion of an onboard thermocycler extends the end-to-end processing for next generation sequencing library preparations among other workstreams. This proposal has three specific aims: 1) automate NGS workflows for genomic and transcriptomic library construction to increase efficiency of sample throughput, reduce errors in sample tracking, and increase accuracy and precision in sample processing; 2) increase clinical genomic applications by attracting larger scale projects and developing a specialized unit for biomarker assays; and 3) encourage others to consider modernizing with a robotics training program for facility users.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
