Optimization of Nasal Airway Cell Usage for CF Drug Discovery

1. Scope of Work. Working together with Dr. Manu Jain at the Northwestern University CF center and we will continue to collect nasal cell samples. Samples will include F508del CFTR homozygous and heterozygous donors as well as all rare CFTR mutations available at our CF center. All samples will be de-identified before they are given to the Bridges lab. Samples will be collected and brought directly to the Bridges lab for processing. Studies to be performed in the Bridges lab at RFUMS for the coming year of funding will focus on the optimization of methods and protocols to make the best use of nasal cells for CF drug discovery. We will investigate the optimal media for cell isolation, cell preservation, growth and differentiation and the best filter properties that provide the most native like epithelium.