# Automated platform for high-throughput genetic analyses in C. elegans

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $374,001

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 The roundworm C. elegans is one of the most widely studied and powerful genetic model organisms in
biology. Many experiments in C. elegans genetics require time-consuming and low throughput manual
procedures. For example, the forward genetic screen, through which genes influencing a phenotype are found
by identification of mutants, often involves assessment of tens of thousands of individual animals. Full
exploitation of C. elegans as a model system will benefit tremendously from automation. We will develop
automated methods for performing genetic screens and many other tasks routinely done in C. elegans labs.
The key components of the system will be a moving-camera machine vision system for monitoring individual
worms on various substrates, and a robotic arm capable of transferring individual worms from one plate to
another. To test and refine our methods, we will apply our automation system to perform a saturation genetic
screen for modifiers of developmentally-timed sleep, which has molecular and behavioral similarities to sleep in
mammals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10382437
- **Project number:** 5R01NS115995-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher Fang-Yen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $374,001
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10382437

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10382437, Automated platform for high-throughput genetic analyses in C. elegans (5R01NS115995-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10382437. Licensed CC0.

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