A kinetic, high-throughput cellular screening system (Plate Imaging Reader) for the "real time" monitoring of dynamic intracellular Ca2+ signals in living cells

Ionized calcium (Ca2+) is the most versatile cellular messenger used by cells. Virtually all cells in the human body employ Ca2+ signals, i.e. rapid changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, to control cell physiological functions in response to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli. Perturbations in Ca2+ homeostasis & dynamics vitiate physiological processes, acting as early drivers of disease progression and pathological outcomes. Hence, understanding and targeting Ca2+-transport systems have become central themes in the study of processes underlying human health, disease & therapy.
To continuously monitor intracellular Ca2+ signals in living cell systems in a high-throughput manner while manipulating the extracellular environment, we request a high-throughput cellular screening, plate-imaging system. The equipment enables the rapid & “real-time” measurement of Ca2+ signals using fluorescence/luminescence-based approaches in living cells that become exposed to physiological or pathophysiological stimuli or drug-like compounds during the experiment and this among 96 (or higher) different wells simultaneously. The infrastructure will empower the team (i) to rapidly determine the Ca2+-signaling profile among different cell types including cellular disease models; and (ii) to setup screening campaigns for novel small molecule modulators of Ca2+-permeable channels that could serve as lead molecules to treat diseases in which the dysfunction of these channels have been implicated.