# NABOR: A Sustainable, High-quality Neuroscience Antibody Open Resource

> **NIH NIH U24** · ADDGENE, INC. · 2021 · $1,101,689

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of this project is to build an open-access recombinant antibody/affinity reagent resource for the
neuroscience community called NABOR (Neuroscience AntiBody Open Resource). Reliable access to affinity
reagents validated for use in diverse neuroscience research applications is crucial to accomplishing numerous
goals of the BRAIN Initiative. Currently available affinity reagents from companies can be variable in quality
and the molecular identity of the material is completely unknown to scientists. Scientists are now creating
recombinant, plasmid-based affinity reagents such as recombinant monoclonal antibodies (R-mAbs), Single
Chain Variable Fragments (ScFVs) and nanobodies (nAbs).
Addgene, a nonprofit company, is a leader in plasmid storage, quality control, and distribution. Addgene will
create NABOR as an open-access library of these plasmids and will provide them in ready-to-use protein
format, along with protocols and educational guides. Aim 1 is to build a high-quality production and distribution
pipeline for ready-to-use recombinant affinity reagents. Two leading BRAIN Initiative investigators, James
Trimmer, Ph.D., of the University of California Davis, and Kwanghun Chung, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, will kick-start NABOR by contributing their extensive collections of neuroscience affinity
reagents to this collection. Each lot will be subjected to rigorous quality control, initially in Dr. Trimmer’s
laboratory and later at Addgene. Aim 2 is to build an open-access community resource platform for data
sharing. This will include a web-based Data Hub to crowdsource reagent validation in a variety of applications.
Aim 3 is to execute an education and outreach strategy that raises awareness of existing tools and solicits new
tools. Addgene will share protocols and educational guides to make scientists successful when using the
reagents and work directly with the community to create the NABOR catalog needed for neural circuit mapping
and our understanding brain function.
NABOR reagents and supporting information will be made available through Addgene’s existing channels for
production, distribution and technical support. Successful completion of this project will result in enhanced
visibility, access, and value for affinity reagents created by the BRAIN Initiative.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10114049
- **Project number:** 1U24NS119916-01
- **Recipient organization:** ADDGENE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Melina Fan
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,101,689
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10114049

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10114049, NABOR: A Sustainable, High-quality Neuroscience Antibody Open Resource (1U24NS119916-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10114049. Licensed CC0.

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