Acquisition of a seahorse XF pro analyzer for biomedical research and education in metabolic profiling

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded $249,961 to the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus on August 5, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to acquire an Agilent Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer for real-time assessment of mitochondrial respiration and cellular bioenergetics.

The instrument will enable high-throughput metabolic profiling of cells and isolated mitochondria, supporting multiple NIH- and NSF-funded projects investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. The Seahorse XF Pro will replace an aging XFE24 model and expand beyond existing XF96 capacity, improving experimental efficiency, reproducibility, and sample throughput. Three major research users and two minor users are identified in the application.

The award includes an educational component integrating the new instrument into an instrumentation course within the Department of Physiology Ph.D. program and a future interdepartmental Master's program at UPRMSC. Performance occurs in Puerto Rico, with work scheduled to conclude by August 4, 2027. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Abstract

This grant application requests funding to acquire an agilent seahorse XF pro analyzer, a state-of-the-art instrument for real-time assessment of mitochondrial respiration and cellular bioenergetics. The instrument is needed to expand and enhance the biomedical research and education capabilities of the university of puerto rico medical sciences campus (UPRMSC). The seahorse analyzer will enable high-throughput, sensitive metabolic profiling of cells and isolated mitochondria, supporting multiple NIH- and NSF-funded projects investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Three major users and two minor users are listed in the grant application. In addition, an educational component is included in which the new instrument will replace the existing system currently used in an instrumentation course offered as part of the department of physiology PH.D. Program, and will also be incorporated into a future interdepartmental MS program. By replacing an aging XFE24 model and providing improved sensitivity beyond the existing XF96 capacity, the requested instrument will overcome critical limitations in experimental efficiency, reproducibility, and sample throughput, thereby enhancing research productivity and educational activities at UPRMSC.