GERMANET. the nationwide GERman MAss cytometry NETwork: project-specific supervision, exchange of expertise, technology transfer, data analysis

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The recently developed mass cytometry (CyTOF technology) captures the complexity of cellular systems at unprecedented depth, promising significant contributions in biomedical research and diagnostics. The German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin (DRFZ) initiates the foundation of a nationwide mass cytometry network, GERMANET (GERman MAss cytometry NETwork), that bundles expertise of all German mass cytometry centers, at the DRFZ, the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT, Charité Berlin), the Center for Regenerative Therapies of the TU Dresden (CRTD), and the University Clinics Ulm. The complexity of mass cytometry projects represents significant hurdles and risks for individual researchers, which will be minimized by interconnecting and joining forces of German mass cytometry centers along a divide-and-conquer strategy. Aims of this network are to i) boost communication between new and experienced users, technology developers, and data analysis experts, to benefit individual researchers projects, ii) the exploitation of synergies in panel design and technology developoment arising from the centers complementary research scope, iii) quality assurance of mass cytometric analyses and data, and their reproducibility, and iv) facilitating bioinformatic analyses. This will be achieved by i) intense project supervision in the planning, execution and analysis phase, joint regular workshops and seminars, the installation of the researcher exchange programme and mutual technology transfer, ii) the introduction of modular panels and the development of new technologies, iii) establishing joint quality standards and their integration into routines, and their validation in ring-trials, and iv) installing the Bioinformatics Contact Office. Thus, GERMANET facilitates the international competitiveness of German mass cytometry.