is_active:

Yes

budget_end:

06/30/2027

date_added:

08/01/2026

agency_code:

NIH

fiscal_year:

2026

project_num:

1P30GM165328-01

award_amount:

$384,639.00

budget_start:

07/01/2026

org_name:

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

org_state:

NH

org_country:

UNITED STATES

org_zipcode:

037551421

primary_duns:

041027822

abstract_text:

The goal of the Molecular Tools Core (MTC) is to accelerate the research of bioMT investigators by providing high-quality reagents and resources. During the last year alone, the MTC assisted over 200 researchers. In Phase II, it also played a central role in the extramural funding and career advancement of bioMT research project leaders (RPL). Our success is based on centralized equipment and expertise that provide high-quality purified proteins and biomolecular tools, skilled laboratory work by our expert staff, and access to state-of-the- art instrumentation. We have recruited a team of highly qualified research scientists to oversee and execute the operation of the MTC. The MTC staff provides expert advice, consultation, and training for every stage of the recombinant protein production workflow. We have built a sizeable collection of resources, including strains, vectors, core-made enzymes, and other molecular tools. In collaboration with the Molecular Interactions and Imaging Core (MIIC), we have developed protocols for biochemical and biophysical characterization and QA/QC of the final products to ensure rigor and reproducibility. As part of our Phase III strategy, we will pursue the following three Specific Aims. 1) We will continue to provide molecular tools to the bioMT community. We will expand throughput and sensitivity with respect to construct design, cloning, and expression screenings to rapidly identify protein targets, accelerating the production of both routine and challenging targets for bioMT investigators. For this work, we will pursue automation capabilities. 2) We will expand our support for the research community. An essential feature of the MTC is the provision of exceptional, robust, and supportive training to all users. We will continue to engage with researchers and to welcome new students and faculty to our facilities. We have also developed and refined a series of standard operating procedures and will continue to expand these offerings. 3) We will ensure the long-term availability of bioMT resources to our research community. During Phase II, MTC staff and leadership collaborated with the bioMT Service Center to define realistic cost- recovery models for consumables and reagents, initiating fees covering media and reagents in year 6. We have prepared faculty for a gradual increase in MTC Core chargebacks with quarterly usage and expense statements and will gradually diminish subsidies over the Phase III funding period, in preparation for full cost recovery at the end of COBRE funding. During Phase III and beyond, the MTC will increase our user base through continued outreach and engagement with potential academic and industry partners. Finally, we will partner with the Research Administration and Mentoring Core to support new certificate and MS educational offerings, to further expand core utilization and cost recovery through tuition offsets. Overall, during Phase III, MTC will continue to catalyze the success of graduated RPLs, pilot project leaders, and other bioMT investigators, drawing our faculty together and laying the foundation for the Institute’s long-term transition to COBRE independence.

project_title:

Molecular Tools Core (MTC)

contact_pi_name:

HIGGS, HENRY N

total_cost:

$384,639.00