QUANTITATIVE IMAGING SYSTEMS LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 102

Description

We propose to create a modular suite of products that will make highly multiplexed imaging of individual cells in intact tissue available to a wide range of laboratories through validated labeling kits and companion imaging software that promotes discovery through interactive image and data visualization Our goal is to create a suite of integrated labeling display and analysis products to elucidate patterns of disease mechanisms in tissue which is not possible using current methods To ensure this goal we have established a close partnership with Oregon Health Science University OHSU and the commitment of a strong group of collaborators in the cancer research community We have developed a novel cycIF technology based on antibody conjugated oligonucleotides Ab oligos Briefly a single stranded oligo docking strand DS is conjugated to the primary antibody which can be hybridized to a complementary single stranded oligo imaging strand IS conjugated to a conventional fluorophore Each DS IS pair was designed to contain a restriction enzyme RE site for selective removal of fluorescence permitting cycles of re staining and imaging Currently little functionality exists to optimally extract the wealth of information in biomarker channel images We introduce a novel tool that can dynamically visualize such images take advantage of the many channels for better cell segmentation even in complex tissue and automatically correct and register the multiple cycles In Phase I a prototype of the imaging system will be built and tested with a subset of labels Upon confirming feasibility Phase II will focus on the creation of specific kits and software products in close harmony between biochemistry software and research needs We propose to create a modular suite of products that will make highly multiplexed imaging of individual cells in intact tissue available to a wide range of laboratories Our goal is to create a suite of integrated labeling display and analysis products to elucidate patterns of disease mechanisms in tissue which is not possible using current methods which should help lead to more effectively strategies for therapy