Scientific EMU: acquisition of the NanoString GeoMx Digital Profiler Platform for the implementation of the Laboratory of Multidisciplinary and Space Multiomics

• Grant number: 22/11571-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Scientific
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Soraya Soubhi Smaili
• Grantee: Soraya Soubhi Smaili
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Farmacologia (INFAR). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Andrea Parolin Jackowski ; Caroline Serrano Do Nascimento ; Cesar Seigi Fuziwara ; Fabiano Beraldi Calmasini ; Janete Maria Cerutti ; João Bosco Pesquero ; Karina Possa Abrahão ; Luiz Mário Ramos Janini ; Maria Aparecida Juliano ; Maria Isabel de Souza Aranha Melaragno ; Reinaldo Salomão ; Roberta Sessa Stilhano Yamaguchi ; Rui Monteiro de Barros Maciel ; Ruy Ribeiro de Campos Junior ; Vilma Regina Martins
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14315-8 - Training, Handling, and Management Program for equipament designated for Spatial Multiomics activities in the fields of Oncology, Neuroscience, and Immunology, BP.TT; 23/18082-5 - Training, Handling, and Management Program for equipment designated for Spatial Multiomics activities in the fields of Oncology, Neuroscience, and Immunology, BP.TT

Abstract

The present project proposes the installation of a multiomic analysis platform, through the acquisition of an equipment composed of two modules. GeoMx equipment and ncounter have the ability to collect and analyze data from specific regions of fresh or frozen tissue.The GeoMx DSP workflow seamlessly integrates with current histology or genomics workflows to help researchers quickly obtain robust and reproducible spatial multiomics data. In addition, nCounter can be used individually for direct analysis of nucleic acids (DNA, RNAs) without spatial analysis. In this way, tissue analyzed for spatial expression and which was not damaged after analysis, for example, can be used for DNA isolation and quantification, to assess whether there has been a change in the copy number of target genes (CNA). alteration), without preparing whole genome libraries.The methodology allows multiomic analyzes that have different applications, being therefore a multidisciplinary application equipment, allowing use by different researchers from different areas, such as oncology, neuroscience, immuno-oncology, immunology. Human sections can be used in a clinical approach, as well as sections from experimental models.In the present project, we present a list of 17 associated researchers, in addition to 25 complementary projects. Researchers from the Escola Paulista de Medicina (São Paulo/Unifesp campus) were brought together, as well as from the Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Institute of Science and Technology and the Instituto do Mar, from different Unifesp campuses. In addition to these, researchers from USP, Santa Casa, São Camilo, ICESP and AC Camargo were included.The equipment to be acquired will be essential for the implementation of the Multidisciplinary Space Multiomics Laboratory (LMME) that will collaborate with the Human Identification Laboratory (Labih), where the Illumina platform recently acquired by Unifesp is located. The LMME will be located in the Research Building 2 of EPM / Unifesp, where several laboratories are located and in collaboration with the Institute of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology (Infar). Infar's experience, acquired with multi-user platforms over the last 20 years, will be the basis for using the equipment, with transparency and equity.The acquisition of GeoMx and ncounter will make it possible to carry out cutting-edge and unprecedented research in our country, raising the quality of the results of researchers and research, making them internationally competitive and increasing the impact of publications and results applied to clinical research. (AU)