Cellular Imaging for Quantitative Biological Insights and Drug Discovery

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Kirill Gorshkov

National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Dr. Kirill Gorshkov is currently a Research Scientist at the National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). After obtaining scientific education and training at the University of Texas at Austin for his Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology, he received his PhD in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2016. There, he focused his research on live cell imaging of second messenger and kinase spatiotemporal dynamics using genetically encoded fluorescence biosensors. During his postdoctoral fellowship at NCATS, he applied his basic science training to drug discovery and development for rare and neglected diseases. Using high-throughput biology, screening, and imaging, he trained with experienced drug discovery industry leaders, which led to him earning a position at NCATS as a Research Scientist in the Therapeutics Development Branch. He has published extensively on assay development, live cell imaging, and high-throughput screening and is continuing to advance the field of biosensors and high-content cellular fluorescence microscopy. He has a proven track record of mentorship with several students obtaining entry into graduate or medical studies. Furthermore, he has significant exposure to the issues of the entire life science enterprise that exists beyond the bench including business, medicine, training, leadership, and the digital health revolution through his activities with Global Biotech Revolution. Dr. Gorshkov has published 22 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Nature Chemical Biology and ACS Nano, many of which are first and co-corresponding authorships.

Collection Overview

Visualizing biology at the cellular and subcellular level reveals the mysteries of cellular organization, function, and responses to the environment. Early microscopy experiments relied on simple devices and transmitted light for qualitative observations. With the advent of fluorescence microscopy, fluorescent dyes, and the discovery of fluorescent proteins, the flashlight of fluorescent probes enabled more discoveries and insights to advance our understanding of life. Advances in computational cellular imaging methods moved qualitative observations into the quantitative realm to drive progress in experimental biology. Combined technological advances in genetic engineering, microscopy, and computing now allow us to see biological phenomena at a wide range of physical scales from the molecular protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation to cell-cell interactions like synaptic firing or immune cell activity in real-time within whole living organisms. The field of drug discovery has also greatly benefited from high-content screening where virtually all aspects of the objects in an image can be quantified for phenotype determination. While fluorescence microscopy has been a major driving force for the cellular imaging field, new approaches are being developed with label-free optical techniques and mass spectrometry-based cellular imaging to gain insights for the benefit of human health.

This collection will seek to demonstrate various tools and methods of quantitative cellular imaging in vitro and in vivo. These include genetically-encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer biosensors, label-free cellular imaging, high-content phenotypic profiling, intravital microscopy, three-dimensional organoid imaging, super-resolution imaging techniques, and more.