# ShEEP-IC: Jess Simple Western System

> **NIH VA IS1** · JAMES J PETERS VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · —

## Abstract

This application requests funds to purchase a Protein Simple Jess automated capillary
electrophoresis and western blotting system. This instrument performs separation of proteins
by capillary electrophoresis followed by in-gel immunoblotting with chemiluminescent or
fluorescent detection of immunolabeled bands. Normalization using in-gel fluorescent labeling
of all proteins is also available. The user loads samples and primary and secondary antibodies
into a multiwell plate. All other steps from protein loading to protein separation,
immunodetection and image acquisition are done automatically. Specific advantages of this
technology include the ability to obtain western blotting and normalization data for 24 samples
in under 4 hours, elimination of the variability inherent in electro-transfer of protein from the
electrophoresis gel to immunoblotting membranes, and very high sensitivity (less than 1.5
micrograms protein is required per lane). As a result, inter-assay variability approaches 15% and
throughput is increased. This technology is thus well suited to experiments requiring that large
numbers of samples and/or antibodies be run. A growing number of antibodies have been
validated in this system, with over 1,400 currently listed on the manufacturer’s website. The
instrument will facilitate research in several areas. In spinal cord injury research, it will be used
for ongoing analysis of changes in intracellular signaling elicited by functional electrical
stimulation in ongoing research in both mice and human subjects, and to elucidate mechanisms
for changes in functional outcomes observed with genetic manipulation or candidate drugs. In
traumatic brain injury research, this technology will be invaluable in investigating a growing
number of proteins linked to vascular and behavioral abnormalities following repeated
exposures to mild blast waves. In ongoing Alzheimer’s disease research, protein levels of key
factors identified through an ever-growing range of genomics techniques aimed at
understanding the biological basis for the strong link between apolipoprotein epsilon 4 and
cognitive impairment will be interrogated. New research investigating new drug candidates to
mitigate effects of depression is also expected to rely heavily on the capabilities of this systems.
Among minor users, the instrument will be used to accelerate progress on research on multiple
aspects of cancer biology in cell culture systems that relies continuously on western blotting for
a wide variety of endpoints and, in cardiovascular research, to enhance research that focuses
on intracellular stress signaling pathways converging on hypoxia-inducible factors which utilizes
western blotting to characterize activation states of such pathways by western blotting.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176059
- **Project number:** 1IS1BX005512-01
- **Recipient organization:** JAMES J PETERS VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER P CARDOZO
- **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/10176059

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176059, ShEEP-IC: Jess Simple Western System (1IS1BX005512-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176059. Licensed CC0.

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