A University of Iowa faculty member has won nearly $3 million from the National Institutes of Health to advance biomedical research by continuing to supply antibodies for scientific research.

The Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (DSHB) at Iowa was created by the National Institutes of Health in 1986 to create, store and distribute laboratory-produced monoclonal antibodies that are used for cancer research and other scientific pursuits. Antibodies are protein components of the human immune system that circulate in the blood, recognize foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses, and neutralize them. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a lab from a single clone of a B cell, a type of white blood cell.

The DSHB sells the monoclonal antibodies to researchers at a fraction of the commercial cost. 

The bank is led by Douglas Houston, professor in the Department of Biology. 

“Reliable antibodies are one of the foundations of biomedical research,” Houston says. “When scientists trust their tools and those of their colleagues, discoveries happen faster — whether it’s identifying basic cellular processes, validating disease biomarkers, developing new drugs, or creating diagnostic tests.” 

The new funding will allow the bank to expand its capabilities. Researchers will be able to develop new methods for producing non-rodent antibodies, such as those from rabbits. Most monoclonal antibodies come from mice, which can limit their variety and affect how well they perform. Non-rodent antibodies offer better effectiveness and variability in research. Researchers will use artificial intelligence to predict which antibody sequences will be most effective. 

DSHB researchers also will seek to better distinguish individual antibodies, which can be difficult to tell apart, helping to improve their accuracy and reliability. The data will be shared with researchers online.

The funding also will be used to update the DSHB’s website and online resources, making it easier for researchers to find and access available antibodies. 

“By reducing costs and improving reliability, we help ensure that taxpayer-funded research delivers results efficiently,” Houston says. “Better antibodies mean faster progress on diseases that affect everyone — cancer, neurodegenerative disease, muscle disease, and more.”

 The four-year award from the NIH’s Office of Research Infrastructure Programs is $2.7 million.