University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery
Assay Development and Optimization (AD/A) Core
- Co-Leader: Larry Sklar, Ph.D.
- Contributes expertise in cell and molecular assays, outreach, and consortium building
- Co-Leader: Eric Prossnitz, Ph.D.
- An expert in signaling mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), cell and molecular biology and biochemistry. He uses mammalian and insect expression systems for protein-protein interactions and cell physiology, has expertise in biochemistry, vector construction, transfection, protein expression, tissue culture, and flow cytometry in yeast, mammalian, bacterial, and insect cells.
- Catherine Prudom, Ph.D.
- Target development
- Mark Haynes, Ph.D.
- Target development
- Zurab Surviladze, Ph.D.
- Target development
- Susan Young, MS
- Target development
- Yang Wu, Ph.D.
- Target development
- Daniel Cimino, MS
- Support Specialist
- Terry Foutz, BS
- Support Specialist
AD/A biologists develop NIH target assays for multiplex HT flow cytometry. AD/A assembles expertise in cell and molecular biology and biochemistry with the scientific leaders, Sklar and Prossnitz, providing extensive experience in biological applications of flow cytometry. AD/A partners to develop assays that arise as part of outreach efforts, allowing partner investigators to demonstrate assay proof of principle for X01 and R03 submissions. AD/A is responsible for optimizing assays that come into the Center via X01, R03, and R21 mechanisms that have not been previously sponsored through outreach by our Center. AD/A prototypes secondary assays for individual investigators as well as for MLPCN Centers wishing to evaluate specificity and selectivity, such as in multiplex assays and counter-screens, as time and resources permit. Innovation: AD/A will identify consortia of investigators through outreach to develop multiplex target families of GTPases and kinases for discovery of probes for protein-protein and protein-small molecular interaction.