# Molecular Screening and Protein Expression Shared Resource

> **NIH NIH P30** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2022 · $207,414

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – MOLECULAR SCREENING AND PROTEIN EXPRESSION
The Molecular Screening and Protein Expression Shared Resource (MSPESR) provides Cancer Center (CC)
members with state-of-the-art high-throughput screening capabilities of shRNA and small molecule libraries to
identify genes and tool inhibitors of candidate therapeutic targets. Identifying drug-like, small molecules that
regulate the activity of therapeutic targets holds promise in defining new treatment paradigms, especially for
recalcitrant tumor types, where current clinical practice is suboptimal. In addition, expert technical assistance is
provided in recombinant DNA plasmid engineering, protein expression in bacteria and baculovirus-infected
insect cells, purification of recombinant proteins, and production of high-titer retroviruses (e.g. lentiviruses) for
delivery of shRNA and cDNAs to mammalian cells. CC investigators require high quality recombinant proteins
for characterization of enzymatic activities, crystallization for structural analysis, characterization of structure-
function relationships of protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, and protein-small molecule interactions; and
immunization of rabbits/mice to generate custom antibodies. Through an inter-institutional agreement with the
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center (HFGCC), the MSPESR offers CC members access to CRISPR/Cas9 gene
editing services. The MSPESR fosters collaboration by providing expertise in biochemical and cell-based
assay development. Such assays enable researchers to identify small molecule compounds which can then be
used as tools to further study the target protein functions and signaling pathways in cells, or alternatively they
may represent hit or lead compounds and form the basis for 'hit-to-lead" optimization to identify a lead series
for drug discovery initiatives. Currently, the MSPESR offers: 1) biochemical-, cell-, and high-content based
assays amenable to high-throughput screening in 384-well microtiter plates; 2) libraries of small molecules and
shRNA; 3) high-throughput screening of small molecule libraries; 4) analysis of biological and chemistry
datasets; 5) characterization of potency and selectivity of newly identified compounds in secondary, orthogonal
assays. These services are provided through a centralized laboratory equipped with robotics, libraries of drug-
like molecules arrayed in high-density microplate formats, and computational infrastructure for efficient
analysis, interpretation, and management of biological and chemistry datasets. The MSPESR is operated by
an experienced Managing Director and dedicated laboratory staff, cross-trained in all services offered. This
allows for timely project management, quality assurance, and dissemination/integration of data critical for
translation of basic biological observations into potential therapeutic strategies. Through its activity over the
last budget cycle, the MSPESR has enabled dissection of complex signaling pathways of tumor onset...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10360641
- **Project number:** 5P30CA010815-53
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph M Salvino
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $207,414
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10360641

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10360641, Molecular Screening and Protein Expression Shared Resource (5P30CA010815-53). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10360641. Licensed CC0.

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