In efforts to provide an open data platform for affinity reagents NCI’s Antibody Characterization Program has begun to utilize Material Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (M-CRADAs) through SAIC-Frederick, Inc so that commercial vendors can use the antibody characterization pipeline. The antibody characterization includes standardized characterization assays such as: SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, ELISA, Immunohistochemistry, Immuno Mass Spectroscopy and Surface Plasmon Resonance. These assays provide the research community with information about the general effectiveness of the antibody in a number of different settings to determine if the antibody is appropriate for research needs. The results (positive and negative) and the Standard Operating Procedures from the assays are then made publically available on the website http://antibodies.cancer.gov. More information about the M-CRADA can be found at the following website: http://ttc.nci.nih.gov/opportunities/opportunity.php?opp_id=1841.
Approximately twice a year the Antibody Characterization Program opens the reagent target request to the extramural research community. Interested researchers, with readily available protein/peptides submit a request using a request form that is provided when the opportunity is opened. The antibody selection committee evaluates proposed antibody targets based on their relatedness to cancer, the availability commercial antibodies for the target, and justification and contribution to existing NCI-funded projects. Monoclonal antibodies are generated and characterized to proteins associated with human cancer. For each protein target, up to three monoclonal antibodies are generated and characterized using standardized assays that include (non inclusive list): SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, ELISA, Immunohistochemistry, Immuno Mass Spectroscopy and Surface Plasmon Resonance.
Monoclonal antibodies and hybridoma cells are made available to the research community through the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (DSHB) at the University of Iowa and/or other third-party vendors. All antibodies are expressed, purified, produced and characterized using standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are freely accessible to the public. Since not all antibodies selected will be applicable to specific utilities, reasonable efforts are made to select antibodies with as broad utility as possible. More information about this program and the next start target request window is available through emailing proteomics.cancer@mail.nih.gov.