RNA therapeutic discovery will be aided by the High-throughput Screening Core which will provide state-of-the-art facilities to execute innovative, robust biochemical, cell-, and high-content based assays that are automation-compatible for high-throughput chemical & functional genomic screening. Our goal is to enable scientists to apply cutting-edge technologies to discover genes and small molecules that can be developed into therapeutics. We can screen user-provided libraries as well as in-house libraries to identify molecules with specific activities and those that modify the functions of RNAs, proteins and other macromolecules. The Core’s infrastructure includes laboratory automation for plating and delivering compounds/drugs and detection of standard well-based fluorescence intensity and luminescence readouts. The core also has infrastructure for mammalian cell culture to support screening of cell lines, primary cells, and patient derived cells. In addition, we perform biochemical screens for drugs that impact RNA and RNA biology. The combination of our expertise in HTS and the expertise of the RNA community will allow us to discover new activities, biologies. Moreover, we can apply these technologies to systematically define the properties of newly developed lipid nanoparticles and other adjuvants for the refinement of RNA delivery tools.
The mission of the HTSC within the Institute for RNA Innovation is to design and implement miniaturized assays to expand and develop RNA therapeutics and better vaccines. We can also facilitate a better understanding of basic RNA biology across the University of Pennsylvania, the Children’s Hospital, and the Wistar Institute. The Core offers a wealth of expertise and resources including libraries of small molecules, genetic tools, robotics and assay readers to explore both well-based and cell-based read-outs.
Contact Dr. Sara Cherry or Dr. David Schultz for more information on using the Core.
Sara Cherry, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Scientific Director, High-throughput Screening Core
University of Pennsylvania
472A Stemmler Hall
3450 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ph: 215-746-2384
Email:cherrys@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
David C. Schultz Ph. D.
Technical Director
High-throughput Screening Core
University of Pennsylvania
67 John Morgan Building
3620 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia PA 19104
phone: 215-573-9641
email: dschultz@pennmedicine.upenn.edu