Handheld FP - Gene Microarray Reader for Assessment of Radiation Damage

Omnisite BioDiagnostics (OmniSite) proposes to develop a handheld fluorescence polarization (FP) reader for genetic microarrays to assess transcriptional changes in the genes of radiation-exposed astronauts. The reader will be capable of extracting messenger RNA (mRNA) from the blood or other tissues of an astronaut and looking for changes in the transcription of radiation-associated genes such as p53 on commercially available microscope slide-based gene arrays. Amplification of the RNA will be performed either by a variation of Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) or Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). The advantage of using the FP mode of detection on the microarray is obviating the need for wash steps, thus making assays simpler and faster. FP enables homogenous one-step assays without sacrificing sensitivity.In Phase I, OmniSite will provide proof-of-concept for the detection of mRNAs on a gene array using an FP breadboard setup. OmniSite will also provide design parameters for a miniaturized handheld FP reader. In phase II, OmniSite will construct the handheld FP reader and demonstrate its use on real animal blood samples.