Scheduling: Instrument time and library screens must be scheduled at least a week in advance. This allows time to consult, adapt the assay to high throughput mode and run controls, if necessary. Scheduling a consultation appointment well in advance (2 weeks or more) of the projected screen date is advised.
Cancelling: Cancellations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. Chemical libraries must be thawed in order to perform a screen. Each freeze-thaw cycle has the potential to damage chemical entities in the libraries. By canceling before the libraries are thawed, we avoid unnecessary risk to the libraries. In addition, by canceling in advance, other users can schedule to use instruments and to perform screens. So, please be considerate.
Hours of operation: Typically, the facility will be open for consultation from 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Screens may begin earlier and run longer than this allotted time as needed.
Library handling and instrument operation: by MSSR personnel and workshop certified, trained users only upon approval by MSSR Director. Echo and robotic systems are used and handled by MSSR personnel only.
Acknowledgements/Grants: If you plan to write a grant or write a paper including the screening you plan to perform at the MSSR, please let us know. We need to keep records of these. Such records are needed when we apply for money to support the MSSR. Recharge does not cover the entire cost of running a screen. Please help us to keep the costs to users as low as possible. Inclusion of MSSR members is expected according to commonly used standards and is not negated by fee-for-service arrangements.
Access Prioritization: The MSSR has so far been able to accommodate all requests. Should the need arise, the MSSR advisory board will resolve prioritization conflicts.
Screening Data and Library Composition
The MSSR delivers screening results as hit lists, comprising hits with a z-score of >3 or <−3. Investigators receive, for each hit, the compound identity and structure, its target or mechanism annotation where annotated in our databases, and the associated activity values. Some proprietary compound decks require a memorandum of understanding, as these compounds have no CAS numbers and public disclosure of the set would forfeit our ability to file composition-of-matter patents. Additional terms apply as per end user agreements.
Full per-well result tables and MSSR compound sets are not distributed. The collections are assembled and curated by Dr. Damoiseaux of the MSSR and are made available for screening rather than for redistribution; several sublibraries also carry terms from their originating sources.
Where an analysis requires knowing what was screened — for example, a claim that hits are enriched or depleted for a given mechanism — Dr. Damoiseaux provides summary composition on request: total compounds screened, the breakdown by target class, and as needed the number of compounds in any specified class together with how they scored. This supports enrichment and depletion claims without release of the collection.
Chemists who contribute compounds to the MSSR deck receive read-only access to full per-well results for the sublibrary they contributed to.
Requests for data beyond the above, including requests arising under industry-sponsored agreements, are directed to the MSSR Director, Dr. Damoiseaux, and are decided by the Director.