# The ShEEP request for NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling and nCounter MAX Complete System

> **NIH VA IS1** · VA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL · 2021 · —

## Abstract

This ShEEP application requested funds to purchase a complete system of NanoString GeoMx® Digital
Spatial Profiling and nCounter® MAX that will be used to support VA research at the Central Virginia VA
Health Care System. Nine major VA-funded investigators, including Drs. Zhou, Hylemon, Patel, Wang,
Bajaj, Ren, Pandak, Gartenhaus, and Ghosh require this equipment to measure mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA
and protein expression in cells, fresh or frozen tissues, serum and bile for their funded VA Merit Awards
and NIH grants. The requested NanoString’s GeoMx ® Digital Spatial Profiling technology can detect and
quantify proteins and RNA at significantly higher plex with spatial resolution using antibodies or RNA
probes conjugated to photo-cleavable DNA oligos that are quantified ex situ with nCounter® MAX readout
from specific regions of interest (ROI) on Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) or Fresh Frozen
tissue. Variable ROI selection permits the profiling of 700-μm diameter areas down to single cells (10-
µm). No secondary antibodies or amplification reagents are required. Readout of the GeoMx® Digital
Spatial Profiler is performed by the fully automated and easy-to-use nCounter® MAX Analysis System.
The nCounter® MAX provides everything needed to cost-effectively complete projects in less than 24
hours. More accurate, reproducible and highly multiplexed than qPCR and simpler, quicker and more
cost-effective than NGS, the nCounter® MAX allows for digital examination of multiple pathways in a
single tube in an extraction-free workflow requiring only 15 minutes of hands-on time. This allows the
Core facility to accelerate research by spending less time on sample prep and performing self-driven,
simple, and rapid data analysis using the open use nSolver® Analysis Software, a great tool for
collaborative work. The intuitive workflow with only fifteen minutes of hands-on time from sample to data.
Separate Digital Analyzer and Prep Station units help eliminate bottlenecks in sample processing and
data collection. No need for a specialized Bioinformaticist. Results generated as direct digital counts and
reported in a standard CSV file that can be imported into any favorite application or use the included
nSolver® Analysis Software. An enterprise software package is included for laboratories that require
enhanced security. Control user access, automate data flow and generate audit logs. Currently, no
similar equipment is available at our VA Research facility. The investigators are relying on outside
contract services, which are not only costly and time-consuming but also require Bioinformatics’ support.
Given the critical role of the molecular changes (RNA, DNA, miRNA and protein expression) in biological
processes throughout development and disease, this equipment would allow our investigators to facilitate
existing studies and pursue unexplored areas of research with efficiency and accuracy that could not be
achieved by the current instrumentation in the res...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10161359
- **Project number:** 1IS1BX005517-01
- **Recipient organization:** VA VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** HUIPING ZHOU
- **Activity code:** IS1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-10-01 → 2021-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10161359

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10161359, The ShEEP request for NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling and nCounter MAX Complete System (1IS1BX005517-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10161359. Licensed CC0.

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