# Molecular Screening Shared Resource (MSSR)

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $274,605

## Abstract

MOLECULAR SCREENING SHARED RESOURCE (MSSR)
ABSTRACT
The goal of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) Molecular Screening Shared Resource
(MSSR) is to provide transformative high throughput screening (HTS) capabilities to the UCLA research
community and beyond. The MSSR offers a comprehensive array of HTS services enabling JCCC investigators
to discover new molecular targets, identify small molecule drugs for these targets, and characterize and optimize
candidate agents in preparation for clinical assessments. Established in 2003, the MSSR has grown from 2,085
sf. in 2013 to 3,600 sf. of BSL2+ compatible space in 2017. The cumulative number of faculty users nearly tripled
from 86 to 237 users in the prior project period. During the last six years, the cumulative amount of extramural
cancer relevant funding brought to UCLA by leveraging MSSR capabilities reached ~$180M. Since 2013, 20
JCCC members used the MSSR, representing 70% of overall usage, with 40% from members with peer-reviewed
funding. MSSR collaborations contributed to 68 cancer-relevant publications from 2013 – 2018 with 43% of these
in high impact (IF ≥10, or field leading) journals. A comprehensive set of services cover assay development,
HTS, data analysis, and follow-up work, such as potency and toxicity determinations and selectivity testing. The
MSSR offers access to 200,000 compounds in various libraries for chemical genomics, repurposing, and drug
discovery. The MSSR also offers a wide array of functional genomics libraries, including human genome-wide
arrayed CRISPR and shRNA lentiviral constructs, siRNAs covering the mouse and human druggable genomes,
and genome-wide cDNA libraries in lentiviral and transfection ready formats. Projects are research partnerships
between MSSR staff and JCCC faculty members, supported by three expert MSSR scientists on four fully
automated, robotic screening systems, with a per diem capacity exceeding 100K samples in 384 well plate
format. All plate reader based assays and plate formats are addressable, as are advanced assay readouts, such
as phenotypic screening by confocal spinning disk microscopy. The MSSR follows a collaborative model that
integrates the user into a project team consisting of a JCCC investigator, MSSR leadership, and MSSR scientists.
The integration of the users into the project team also brings the necessary biological knowledge to the project
while keeping the MSSR headcount and associated cost low but scalable with demand. Moreover, this is an
excellent educational opportunity for students to learn in one-on-one training from MSSR experts. All projects
utilize best industry practices including the generation of SOPs and milestone driven project management. MSSR
Director Robert Damoiseaux, PhD (ZY) is an internationally known expert in HTS with an industry background
who frequently provides talks at national meetings and guides each project in the MSSR, ensuring research
excellence. The year 2017 was pivotal ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10824410
- **Project number:** 5P30CA016042-48
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Damoiseaux
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $274,605
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-12-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824410

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10824410, Molecular Screening Shared Resource (MSSR) (5P30CA016042-48). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10824410. Licensed CC0.

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