Acquisition of a Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter (FACS)

荧光活化细胞分选（FACS）是一项功能强大的技术，可以根据选择的个体特征直接询问和分离悬浮液中的大量单细胞。例如，细胞大小以及各种各样的细胞特征可以被测量，只要一个独特的荧光信号可以与每一个被调查的特征相关联。然后，可以将显示出有趣特征的细胞从其他细胞群中分离出来，并迅速将其单独或大量存放在适当的容器中。直到最近，细胞分选需要非常昂贵（通常是50万美元）的仪器，操作起来也相对复杂。相比之下，所要求的Bio-Rad S3E细胞分选机价格合理，操作简单。虽然该仪器最多允许监测四种颜色，这比大多数细胞分选仪少，但这种配置足以满足我们实验室绝大多数（>95%）的实验需求。我们请求资助购买这台仪器，否则在舍布鲁克大学主校区是不可用的，以支持我们在许多领域的研究，包括单细胞基因组学，靶向转录组学，细胞生物学和遗传学。该仪器对我们的研究项目至关重要，并且在平台协调员的监督下，将实现许多新项目，并有助于培训来自多个实验室的高素质人员。

Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) is a powerful technology allowing very large populations of single cells from a suspension to be directly interrogated and isolated based on selected individual characteristics. For instance, cell size along with a wide variety of cell features can be measured provided that a distinct fluorescent signal can be associated with each investigated trait. Cells that display interesting characteristics can then be separated from the rest of the population and quickly deposited in an appropriate container either individually or in bulk. Until recently, cell sorting required very expensive (often >$500,000) instruments that were also relatively complex to operate. In contrast, the requested Bio-Rad S3E cell sorter is affordable and simple to run. Although this instrument allows a maximum of four colors to be monitored, which is less than most cell sorters, this configuration is sufficient for the vast majority (>95%) of experimental needs in our laboratories. We request funding to purchase this instrument, that is otherwise unavailable on the main campus of the Université de Sherbrooke, to support our research in many fields including single-cell genomics, targeted transcriptomics, cell biology and genetics. This instrument is essential for our research programs, and will, under the supervision of a platform coordinator, enable many new projects as well as contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel from several laboratories.