PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
We are requesting funds for a QPatch II-48 automated patch clamp system, designed for acquiring high-fidelity
patch clamp data. A major feature of this system is that it is being used with primary cells such as immune cells
and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes or neurons. There are currently no such automated patch clamp systems
available at NYU or within New York City readily available to the NYU investigators. A major advantage of the
QPatch II is that the use of seal enhancer solutions that contains high concentrations and fluoride and calcium
is not required. The instrument allows simultaneous patch clamp recordings with up to forty-eight individual cells,
in increments of eight, at relatively low individual cost. End users need minimal training. The floor standing
instrument is space saving with no special installation requirements, and the system is easily shared between
users. The instrument will be housed in a central location in a shared electrophysiology facility named IonLab,
managed by an experienced cellular electrophysiologist and shared by several NIH-funded major and other
users. Ample institutional help and commitment is available, including from the NYU Grossman
School of Medicine (NYUGSOM) Office of Collaborative Science (OCS) that assists with developing a
business plan, support for IonLab and access to a common reservation and billing system (iLab), and the
Department of Pathology who is committing to space and financial needs, including the maintenance of a
service contract. The major user group spans several academic departments and represents both basic and
translational research interests such as; pathology, cardiology, immunology and neurosciences. The major
NIH-funded users will have protected use of the majority of the instrument time whereas other users will be
able to use the remaining instrument time. The availability of this shared instrument will be unique in
Manhattan. The requested QPatch II automated patch clamp instrument will support the research of several
NIH funded researchers at NYUGSOM and NYU College of Dentistry.