High-throughput and
high-content screening of large chemical libraries is a proven way to identify
novel small molecules that target and modulate disease-associated biological
systems and phenotypes. The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Drug
Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, located within Children’s Cancer
Institute Australia (CCIA) at the Lowy Cancer Research Centre in Sydney, was
established to provide the infrastructure and know-how for small molecule
screening to the cancer research community. The Drug Discovery Centre has been
in operation for two years and, in that time, has completed several large- and
small-scale screening projects in childhood and adult cancer cell-based assays
using diversity, known bioactive and targeted chemical compound libraries. The
Centre operates on a subsidised fee-for-service basis and provides expertise
and assistance in scaling assays for high-throughput and robotic screening,
isolating chemical compounds that affect specific cancer cellular activities
and providing researchers with small molecule hits to be used in further drug
development or as biological tools. In this poster, we outline the core
components of the Centre, including the screening assay formats, small molecule
libraries, compound storage and management, automation equipment, and the
integrated data management system. In addition, we summarise the different
services available, the process for accessing the Centre, and costs associated
with both small- and large-scale screening. Finally, we provide an update on
new equipment for high content screening of small molecule collections, the
expansion of chemical compound libraries and additional services being provided
in 2013. It is the goal of this facility to provide the cancer research community
with state-of-the-art technology for discovering new therapeutics and tools for
better understanding cancer biology.