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2018 Microgravity Molecular Crystal Growth Workshop Overview

In 2015 a workshop was held to outline the basic science requirements for a long-term protein crystallization program onboard the International Space Station National Lab including accessibility/timing, resources (flight/ground), education and funding.  The workshop was focused on an ISS National Laboratory MMCG initiative for repetitive, low-cost crystallization in microgravity providing a platform for human healthcare discovery to users across the discipline including commercial, other government agencies, academia and private research. In addition, inspiring the next generation through experiential learning opportunities will be a key component.

The 2018 workshop will (1) discuss progress made toward the goals outlined in the 2015 workshop, (2) identify steps necessary to accomplish remaining goals, (3) present new opportunities uncovered, (4) and formulate future goals for the program.

Location

Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute
700 Ellicott St., Buffalo, New York 14203

http://hwi.buffalo.edu/

Date

July 19th 2018.

This is just before the start of the annual ACA meeting that will be in Toronto Canada starting the 20th.

Attend

If you would like to participate in the 2018 workshop please contact Marc Giulianotti at mgiulianotti@issnationallab.org

Agenda

  • 8:00 AM

    Check in and Light Breakfast

  • 8:30 AM

    Welcome

     
    Speaker - the ISS National Lab

  • 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM

    Session 1: Lessons Learned From Microgravity Crystallization


    8:45
    Top Ten Considerations When Sending Your Proteins to Crystallize in Space
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Joe Ng, Ph.D.
    iXpressGenes Inc., Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology

    9:00
    Past, Present and Planned the ISS National Lab PCG Payloads
    Download Slides  (PDF)
    April Spinale
    the ISS National Lab

    9:15
    Room Termperature X-ray and Neutron Crystallography of Human Acetylcholinesterase to Inform the Design of Accelerated Reactivators
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Andrey Kovalesky, Ph.D.
    Research and Development Scientist at the Neutron Scattering Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory

    9:30
    Surprises in Space
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Edward Snell, Ph.D.
    President and CEO of Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute

    9:45
    Questions and Answers
    the ISS National Lab Moderated

  • 10:15

    Break

  • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

    Session 2: Lessons Learned From Microgravity Crystallization


    10:30
    A COTS Approach to Microgravity PCG
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Kristofer Gonzalez-DeWhitt
    Former contractor (ATL) at Eli Lilly & Company, Consultant for The Bionetics Corporation

    10:40
    Diffusion Cells, Membranes and Dynamic Control
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Paul Todd, Ph.D.
    Chief Scientist Emeritus, Consultant at Techshot, Inc.

    10:50
    UAB Implementation Partnership Capabilities
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Robyn Rouleau
    Assoc. Director, UAB/EITD

    11:00 AM
    Payload, Operation & Science Services including  Vapor-Diffusion and Counter-Diffusion Cell  Capabilities (PCAM and enhanced DCAM)
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Dan Carter, Ph.D.
    CEO/Chief Scientist. New Century Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    11:10 AM
    Microscopes on the ISS: Present and Future Possibilities.
    Download Slides (PDF)
    William Meyer, Ph.D.
    USRA NASA Project Scientist for the Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE)

    11:20 AM
    Session Questions and Answers
    the ISS National Lab Moderated

  • 12:00 PM

    Box Lunch Served

  • 12:15 - 1:30 PM

    Session 3: Solicitations and Other Applications


    12:15
    Real Time PCG
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Craig Kundrot, Ph.D.
    Director, Space Life and Physical Sciences Research & Applications Division, NASA

    12:30
    Utilizations RFP
    Download Slides (PDF)
    the ISS National Lab

    12:45
    Microfluidics for In Situ Crystallography
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Sarah Perry, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst

    1:00
    Inorganic Salt Crystallizations by Middle and High School Students
    Download Slides (PDF)
    Ilia Guzei, Ph.D.
    Director of Crystallography at University of Wisconsin–Madison

    1:15
    Session Questions and Answers
    the ISS National Lab Moderated

  • 1:45 PM

    Break Out Session

  • 3:00

    Networking and Tours

 

Related Resources

  • Application for Membership on NASA's Science Definition Team for the Real-Time Protein Crystal Growth 2 Project

    NASA invites members of the structural biology research community to apply for membership in the SDT that will guide the RTPCG-2 project. Applying for participation in the RTPCG-2 SDT is open to all qualified and interested individuals.  Letters of Application are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 25, 2018, via the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES).

    protein crystal growth microscope image

  • 2015 CASIS Sponsored ISS National Laboratory Workshop Report

    Microgravity has been used for more than 30 years to improve outcomes of crystal analyses through production of higher quality and larger crystals. To examine the readiness and requirements of this marketplace for a more commercial approach to crystallization on the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) held a subject matter expert workshop in October 2015 with experts across the field of crystallography.

    microgravity pgc workshop report

  • Microgravity Molecular Crystal Growth

    For more than 30 years, scientists have used microgravity—onboard the Russian Space Station Mir, the Space Shuttle, and the ISS—to improve molecular crystal growth research. Crystal growth research in space has the potential to vastly improve life on Earth through numerous applications.

    merck microgravity protein crystals

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