Versatile high-throughput Alinity ci assay platform to support multiple laboratory animal users - ABSTRACT Organ transplantation’s therapeutic reach is currently constrained by incomplete efficacy associated with current clinical immunosuppressive regimens. Similarly cellular therapy using allogeneic cells has established proof of principle for treatment of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury, but application is constrained by inability to reliably prevent alloimmune injury of cell or tissue grafts without unacceptable side effects. As such, transplant tolerance research in translational models is a longstanding, primary focus of the MGH Center for Transplantation Sciences (CTS). For all these applications, the limited availability of human cells, tissues, and organs would be resolved if xenotransplantation can be developed as a safe therapeutic modality, allowing recipient-specific tailored treatments to be available timely when the need arises and the potential recipient is situated to achieve the greatest benefit from a transplant. Transplant tolerance and xenotransplantation research in translational models are the long-standing focus of the CTS. For almost a decade CTS investigators have been supported by an Architect assay platform to perform immunosuppressive drug assays that are either unavailable locally (mycophenolate mofetile) or slow and expensive when performed as a ‘send-out’ (rapamycin, tacrolimus, cyclosporin). In addition, the platform provides ‘general chemistry’ values (electrolytes, biochemical parameters of organ function and metabolism). We depend on this resource because hospital clinical laboratories are unwilling to accept NHP samples due to infectious concerns related to B-viruses; commercial alternatives have slow turn-around times and are unreliable and expensive. Other research investigators across many MGH Departments and Centers also depend upon this platform for these and other assays. The existing machine is at end-of-life and is no longer be supported by the vendor. Replacing the Architect platform is essential to our many NIH-supported transplant, trauma, regenerative medicine, and cardiovascular research projects working in large animals. We have identified a versatile high-throughput Alinity ci Assay Platform that will fully meet the needs of existing users. If made available through this mechanism, the Alinity ci platform would be highly valuable to multiple other investigators using large and small animal across the institution. Importantly, custom assay development services are available from the vendor to meet emerging research needs as they are identified. Rodent and other small-animal users do not currently have access to a versatile assay platform capable of working with <10 µl (and as low as 2 µl) serum or plasma samples; this platform is adaptable to their needs. In summary, the requested equipment would meet a mission-critical key need, and expand our capacity to serve the local NIH-funded user community, as well as offer an important Core facility for an expanded user base whose work would benefit in cost savings and reduced turn-around time available via this platform.
