# Signaling Core

> **NIH NIH U19** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2020 · $254,338

## Abstract

Summary
Single cell mass cytometry has recently led to greatly enhanced high-dimensional, single-cell, quantitative
analysis of bioactive molecules on and within cell populations. The antibodies recognize surface markers that
delineate cell types or intracellular signaling molecules or transcription factors that demarcate multiple cell
functions such as phospho-signaling, apoptosis, DNA damage, metabolism, and cell cycle. By measuring all
these parameters simultaneously, the signaling state of an individual cell can be measured at the “network
level”. Though measuring single cells at this depth is highly informative, genomic and proteomic profiling of
tissue organization in situ remains an important goal. The Core has developed Multiplexed-ion Beam Imaging
(MIBI) a technology currently capable of analyzing up to 45 targets simultaneously and which is compatible
with standard formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens, and the most common sample type
in clinical repositories worldwide. The MIBI platform has the unique ability to provide extraordinarily sensitive
single molecule detection as well as single cell 3D data visualization for solid tissues. The Core has extended
this work to the creation of CODEX—a fluorescence based high throughput system capable rendering 50-100
parameters in 3-6 hours (scalable to hundreds of parameters). The CODEX platform converts nearly any
fluorescence scope for ~ $10,000 into a high dimensional imaging device – a key utility for this U19 program.
Given the capabilities of MIBI and CODEX--and recognizing a growing international biomedical and
pharmaceutical interest in imaging applications to immunology, diagnostics, and drug development-- this Core
will extend the current features of CODEX and MIBI deep phenotypic profiling of tissues and cells. New
algorithms will be developed for feature extraction and correlation to clinical status. The Core will profile, with
up to 50 parameters in most cases (and more in others), the immune and tissue cell architectural changes that
arise from genetic and pathogen-induced perturbations. Features extracted from this unprecedentedly deep
data will be provided for understanding of wholesale and minor tissue alterations that occur—enabling a first
ever map of “tissue-omics” at the single cell level. Analysis of these data will be expanded upon in the
Bioinformatics Core. The datasets enabled by this work will provide the quantitative robustness that is a
foundation of this program. More generally, this work will establish novel platforms for gaining an
unprecedented view into immune function and pathogenesis that could be easily adapted in future work to
understand immune function at a global level.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999449
- **Project number:** 5U19AI100627-09
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** GARRY P NOLAN
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $254,338
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999449

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999449, Signaling Core (5U19AI100627-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999449. Licensed CC0.

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