Introduction

The high-throughput screening facility is a central component of the Broad Chemical Biology Program. Its highly successful Investigator-Initiated Screening Program has facilitated small molecule screening projects for more than 80 different research groups from throughout the U.S. and abroad. The program assists academic researchers in carrying out high-throughput screens of chemical libraries to identify new tools for biological research. The BCB screening facility is built around modular work stations, and assays are generally carried out in 384-well plates. The BCB compound collection is continuously growing, and over 250,000 compounds are currently available for screening. The facility employs a staff-assisted screening model, in which investigators using the facility are provided with access to compound libraries and training in the use of some instruments, such as robotic compound transfer systems, liquid handling equipment, plate readers, and screening microscopes. Staff members run all complex automation for screens. No fees are charged for using the screening facility, but data from all screens performed here are collected and stored in a non-public, central database to allow researchers to rapidly evaluate and compare results of their screens.