Drug Discovery Services
HTS/HCS Drug Discovery and Hit-to-Lead Drug Development
This site is specific for researchers interested in utilizing the D3SR Arm, which specializes in HTS/HCS probe and drug discovery using cellular and biochemical systems. We also specialize in three-dimensional (3D) HTS/HCS of complex cell-based models, organoids and tumor organoids (cell line or patient derived). This facility is newly renovated and features a new state-of-the-art custom robotic automation platform (the Explorer G3) that integrates new HTS/HCS instrumentation and equipment from PerkinElmer, and other leading vendors.
Other Equipment Utilized for Assay Development Not Integrated with The Explorer G3
- Generation 1 Opera Phenix HCS System
- Janus Automated Liquid Handling Platform (96- channel MDT heads and 8-channel Varispan)
- Envision multi-mode plate reader (Filter based)
- Columbus Signals Image Artist Server
- 4-foot Bio-Safety Cabinet (safety level II)
The Explorer G3 Work station (PerkinElmer) is a custom designed automation platform that is fully enclosed, maintaining a clean sterile environment through a HEPA filtration system. The Explorer G3 has three levels, the main deck, and a middle and lower deck used to house instrumentation and equipment. The Explorer G3 has a track system robotic arm that integrates equipment on both the main and middle decks.
- Janus G3 Automated Liquid Handling Platform (96- and 384-channel MDT heads, 8-channel Varispan, and pintool)
- Opera Phenix Plus HCS System (4 sCMOS cameras with live cell chamber and 4x, 10x, 20x, and 40x Objectives)
- Harmony (HCI/HCA) Software (Cell Painting and Supervised Machine Learning Analyses)
- Envision multi-mode plate reader (hybrid system of filters and quad monochromators)
- Liconic STX220 Cell Culture Incubator
- Liconic STX500 Drug Library Storage Freezer
- Liconic LPX220 Plate Hotel
- ELx405 Plate Washer (BioTek)
- Automated Centrifuge Loader (Agilent)
- 4titude 4AS Automated Heat Sealer/ Automated Depeeler (Brooks)
- MultiFlo Bulk Liquid Dispenser (BioTek)
Compound Libraries
Kinase Inhibitor Library (SelleckChem): 875 compounds including clinically relevant or FDA approved kinase inhibitors.
Spectrum Collection (Discovery Systems): 2,320 compounds approved drugs (50%), diverse natural products (30%), and other bioactive compounds (20%).
Custom Drug-Like Diversity Sets (120,000 compounds): These libraries are intended for discovering drug-like molecules that can be translated into novel intellectual property. Inherent to these libraries are derivatives of each chemical scaffold, which can yield SAR (structure-activity relationship) that can guide downstream medicinal chemistry efforts. These libraries have been filtered to remove undesirable compounds (PAINS)
- Diversity Library 1 has 20,000 compounds (Life Chemicals).
- Diversity Library 2 has 50,000 compounds (ChemBridge)
- Diversity Library 3 has 50,000 CNS specific compounds (ChemBridge)
Other Drug Discovery Core Facilities
Computational Chemistry and Biology Core Facility
The Computational Chemistry and Biology (CCB) Core Facility provides a wide array of advanced tools and services for computational modeling simulations chemical and biological systems.
Medicinal Chemistry Core Facility
The Medicinal Chemistry Core Facility can provide a range of services related to chemical synthesis and lead drug development.
