PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this project is to build an open-access recombinant antibody/affinity reagent resource for the neuroscience community called NABOR (Neuroscience AntiBody Open Resource). Reliable access to affinity reagents validated for use in diverse neuroscience research applications is crucial to accomplishing numerous goals of the BRAIN Initiative. Currently available affinity reagents from companies can be variable in quality and the molecular identity of the material is completely unknown to scientists. Scientists are now creating recombinant, plasmid-based affinity reagents such as recombinant monoclonal antibodies (R-mAbs), Single Chain Variable Fragments (ScFVs) and nanobodies (nAbs). Addgene, a nonprofit company, is a leader in plasmid storage, quality control, and distribution. Addgene will create NABOR as an open-access library of these plasmids and will provide them in ready-to-use protein format, along with protocols and educational guides. Aim 1 is to build a high-quality production and distribution pipeline for ready-to-use recombinant affinity reagents. Two leading BRAIN Initiative investigators, James Trimmer, Ph.D., of the University of California Davis, and Kwanghun Chung, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will kick-start NABOR by contributing their extensive collections of neuroscience affinity reagents to this collection. Each lot will be subjected to rigorous quality control, initially in Dr. Trimmer’s laboratory and later at Addgene. Aim 2 is to build an open-access community resource platform for data sharing. This will include a web-based Data Hub to crowdsource reagent validation in a variety of applications. Aim 3 is to execute an education and outreach strategy that raises awareness of existing tools and solicits new tools. Addgene will share protocols and educational guides to make scientists successful when using the reagents and work directly with the community to create the NABOR catalog needed for neural circuit mapping and our understanding brain function. NABOR reagents and supporting information will be made available through Addgene’s existing channels for production, distribution and technical support. Successful completion of this project will result in enhanced visibility, access, and value for affinity reagents created by the BRAIN Initiative.

PROJECT RELEVANCE This project will create an open-access recombinant antibody/affinity reagent resource for the neuroscience community called NABOR (Neuroscience AntiBody Open Resource). NABOR will enhance the visibility, access, and value of affinity reagents created by the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative by creating a platform for sharing plasmids and protein. This open resource collection of reagents, with associated protocols and validation data, will expedite discoveries in neural circuit mapping and enhance the elucidation of brain function.