Multiplex biomarker assay reader- Purchase of Electrochemiluminescence Reader under the MRC Equipment bid

The Mary Lyon Centre is a large-scale mouse genetics infrastructure with activities focused on applying mouse genetics, mutagenesis and phenotypic screening to investigate mammalian gene function at a systems level and in disease-states. Our work is aimed at generating new animal models, which shedding light on key aspects of human disease. One of the key challenges in the use of animal models is relevance to human disease. Whilst genetic alterations found in human patients can be introduced into mouse strains, analysis of how the disease manifest and progresses needs to align closely with patient data to ensure the model will be instructive for further research.

High performance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful, highly sensitive and selective tool in analytical applications. The QuickPex reader utilises this technology to generate light when stimulated by electricity to allow us to measure multiple key proteins and molecules simultaneously in individual samples. The combination of speed of analysis and the ability to multiplex immunoassays allows for increased throughput and productivity.

Utilising the wide menu of commercially available mouse assays alongside the ability to develop specific assays for targeted research allows for highly translatable and sensitive results that will provide accurate preclinical models for the study of human disease. We are especially invested in the research of cancer, the microbiome, immune responses, and mitochondrial diseases and the ability to use, or customised panels that are targeted towards inflammation, toxicity and metabolism will be invaluable in this research.

The Mary Lyon Centre is the hub of the new MRC National Mouse Genetic Network created in April 2022 and the MRC's National Centre for Mouse Genetics. In the last 5 years we have provided services for 65 higher education institutes and 20+ biotech/pharma companies. We strive to support the world-class research of the Network and our other users (which include academia, biotech and pharma) when there is no other alternative to using a live animal in medical research.
With the Mary Lyon Centre undertaking programmes of research into cancer, the microbiome, immune responses, and mitochondrial diseases the ability to measure associated biomarkers is paramount. Use of the MSD platform allows for the measurement of such inflammatory markers, measures of toxicity and high-throughput metabolites in a multiplex manner whilst using minimal sample volume. For example, this would allow the measurement of inflammatory cytokines from tail bleed samples that regulate the immune and inflammatory responses within the body. We could then monitor these over a longitudinal study to investigate how the immune system responds to challenges. With the large number of commercially available mouse specific assays that are homologous to human and the ability to develop specific assays for targeted research we will be able to produce translatable and accurate pre-clinical models for the study of specific diseases.