Biochemical and Molecular Interaction Core (BMIC)

Program Overview

The Biochemical and Molecular Interaction Core (BMIC) at the Center for Discovery & Innovation (CDI) provides state-of-the-art technologies and specialized expertise to support investigators in structural biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. The BMIC’s primary services focus on two main areas:

1. Custom-designed protein expression and purification, yielding high-quality biological reagents tailored to specific research needs.
2. Molecular interaction analysis, providing high-throughput, label-free kinetic data for drug discovery campaigns and comprehensive epitope binning for immunotherapy development.

Mission Statement

The mission of the BMIC is to accelerate translational research and drug discovery at the CDI by providing researchers with cutting-edge biophysical instrumentation, high-purity recombinant proteins, and rigorous, quantitative molecular interaction analysis to advance novel therapeutics and immunotherapies.

Services & Capabilities

The BMIC is equipped with advanced instrumentation to support comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterization:

• High-Throughput Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): Featuring the Carterra LSA-XT, this platform offers industry-leading, label-free throughput for binding kinetics, affinity measurements, and epitope binning. It is ideal for screening biologics, characterizing monoclonal antibodies, and evaluating small molecule-target interactions.
• Fluorescence & Biochemical Assays: Equipped with a Tecan Spark multimode plate reader, the core supports highly sensitive absorbance, luminescence, and fluorescence polarization (anisotropy) assays. Notably, the core supports proximity-based luminescent complementation assays for rapid, high-throughput initial lead compound screening. This technology is ideal for evaluating protein-protein interactions, mapping ternary complex formations (such as PROTACs), and conducting primary biochemical screening prior to orthogonal kinetic validation on the LSA-XT SPR.
• Custom Protein Purification (FPLC): Utilizing the GE AKTA FPLC system, the core offers scalable, custom-designed protein expression and automated purification workflows to isolate highly pure proteins for structural and functional studies.

Operational Workflow

Our primary services focus on custom-designed protein expression/purification and molecular interaction analysis. To ensure successful experimental outcomes, the BMIC utilizes a structured project workflow:

1. Initial Consultation: Investigators meet with BMIC staff to discuss sample requirements, experimental design, assay optimization, and project goals. The first consultation is provided for free.
2. Sample Preparation & Submission: Users submit their plasmids, cell pellets, or purified samples according to core guidelines, or the core can initiate custom protein expression.
3. Data Acquisition: BMIC staff performs the requested purification, or molecular interaction runs utilizing optimized protocols.
4. Data Analysis & Reporting: Raw data is processed and analyzed by core experts. Investigators receive a comprehensive final report including epitope affinity graphs, kinetic rates, and binning maps.
5. Follow-up: A post-experiment consultation is held to interpret results and plan subsequent studies.

Fee Structure

Access to the BMIC is available to CDI/HMH researchers, external academic partners, and industry collaborators on Scientist.com. Project requests and instrument scheduling are managed through our centralized core management system Idea Elan.

In addition to the hourly and daily instrument usage rates listed below, the BMIC offers comprehensive, full-service project-based pricing. Because these projects are highly tailored to your specific experimental needs, assay design, and consumable requirements, project-based total service fees are not listed online. Please contact the Core Director directly to discuss your study design and receive a customized quote.

Carterra LSA-XT:

• CDI/HMH Internal Users: $400/day.
• External Academic/Non-Profit: $800/day.
• External For-Profit/Industry: $1,500/day.

GE AKTA FPLC:

• Internal: $25/hour.
• External Academic/Non-Profit: $35/hour.
• External For-Profit/Industry: $50/hour.

Tecan Spark Plate Reader:

• Internal: $20/hour.
• External Academic/Non-Profit: $35/hour.
• External For-Profit/Industry: $60/hour.

Staff Labor & Technical Assistance Rates

For investigators requiring core staff expertise to execute complex assays, purify proprietary proteins, or perform advanced kinetic modeling, the following labor rates apply in addition to the unassisted instrument usage fees.

1. Initial Project Consultation: Free
2. Technical Assistance (Assay Development, Hands-on Data Analysis, Custom Labor):
   • CDI/HMH Internal: $30 - $50/hour
   • External Academic & Industry: Custom quoted based on project scope.

Key Staff/Faculty

Byungwoo Ryu, Ph.D.

Associate Member,
HMH Center for Discovery & Innovation (CDI)

byungwoo.ryu@hmh-cdi.org
201-880-3450