# High-Content, High-Throughput Multi-Mode Imaging System

> **NIH NIH S10** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $415,515

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal requests funds to acquire a BIOTEK Cytation 5 multimode (imaging) reader with BioSpa
automated incubator and MultiFlo liquid handler for the Medical University of South Carolina to support the drug
discovery effort of NIH-funded investigators. The equipment will be housed in the Department of Drug Discovery
& Biomedical Sciences (DDBS) and will be utilized by the Cell & Molecular Imaging Core (CMI) and the Drug
Discovery Center (DDC) to promote scientific discovery and speed translation of basic scientific findings into
preclinical and clinical studies through drug discovery. The DDC also facilitates the discovery of new chemical
probes and provides students the opportunity to learn innovative techniques while doing real world
experimentation in drug discovery. These educational opportunities are critical to the mission of MUSC and the
DDBS. CMI Investigators currently utilize available confocal microscopes (Zeiss LSM 880 with Airyscan, Zeiss
LSM 510 and Olympus Fv10i) to visualize changes in cellular morphology, bioenergetics, proliferation and
protein trafficking in 8-12-well chamber slides. While the Zeiss LSM 880 system is equipped with an incubation
chamber for 96-well plates, this chamber can only be used with objectives 10x or lower, and neither the speed
of imaging nor the software are appropriate for high content analysis. Further, the Zeiss LSM 880 is utilized
almost 24/7 for various other projects. The Olympus Fv10i confocal microscope also has automated imaging
capabilities. However, the Olympus 10i can only handle either 3x 35 mm dishes or one chamber slide at a time.
The DDC previously utilized an InCell 2000 high-content analyzer (GE HealthCare) for drug discovery projects
originally purchased in 2008 but currently is using a Hermes imaging system from IDA Biomedical acquired in
2011. Unfortunately, both systems are obsolete. The InCell2000 analyzer is no longer operable, and per the
manufacturer it would not be cost effective to repair it. This older model Hermes system can image only 3
different fluorescence channels, which limits the users’ capability of multiplexing. Further, the environmental
chamber does not accommodate all standard plates for long-term live cell analysis and has a limited range of
temperature and CO2 control and no O2 control. Moreover, the Hermes cannot be upgraded with robotics.
In summary, currently available systems at the CMI are not suitable for higher throughput imaging of signaling
pathways, cellular interactions and metabolic changes. Further, the high-content analyzers in the Drug Discovery
Center (DDC) are obsolete, have limited detection capabilities and cannot conduct high-throughput screens
using phenotypic assays that require the simultaneous measurement of multiple readout parameters. The
acquisition of a BIOTEK Cytation 5 multimode (imaging) reader with BioSpa automated incubator and MultiFlo
liquid handler would greatly expand the screening capabilitie...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940457
- **Project number:** 1S10OD028663-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** MONIKA GOOZ
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $415,515
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2021-08-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940457

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940457, High-Content, High-Throughput Multi-Mode Imaging System (1S10OD028663-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940457. Licensed CC0.

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