Discovery of Chemical Probes and Therapeutic Leads, Phase 3, Analytic Core

Project Summary We propose a Phase III COBRE to continue and sustain our work to discover new chemical probes and lead molecules for biological research and therapeutic discovery. The goal of the Analytical Chemistry Core (Analytical Core) is to provide the UD campus with the central infrastructure for the study and characterization of molecular structure, interactions and reactivity. The Analytical Core provides support for core facilities in mass spectrometry (MS), proteomics, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and kinetic analysis. With COBRE support over the past decade, the core has grown into one of the most impactful units on the UD campus, providing 589 researchers in 80 research groups with access to 25 major instruments. The facilities created through this core are unique to the State of Delaware and are impacting research in academia and industry throughout the region. In Phase III, we propose a management structure for the Analytical Core that will support growth and sustainability. We describe a plan to grow the biological mass spectrometry user base during Phase III by supporting core instruments, providing hands-on training for students and postdocs, and through external scientific advisement. We will facilitate application of the advanced capabilities of new instruments in the NMR facility and will expand the user base of a new EPR instrument. We also describe a sustainable business plan for the core during Phase III and the period beyond COBRE funding. Continuing our past practice, we propose to sustain the core through instrumentation proposals to update our equipment and scientific infrastructure. The support of hard-funded core scientific staff across our core provides the human infrastructure required for successful instrumentation proposals and the overall foundation needed for long-term sustainability of our center.