Live Cell Imaging Platform for Dynamic Studies of Cellular Interactions

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The current proposal supports the growing need of an emerging group of cell biology researchers at Queen’s University to access imaging platforms designed to actively track cellular phenotypes in live cells. The IncuCyte ZOOM imaging system will provide these research groups with tools to track cells as they divide, move, interact with other cells, and undergo programmed cell death. This imaging platform will facilitate new discoveries in studies of cells isolated from a variety of tissues (heart, brain, breast, gastrointestinal tract, peripheral blood). The parallel study of hundreds of cell samples in this instrument is a significant advance over current imaging systems. The system has been developed for imaging of both unlabeled cells, as well as with fluorescent signals that provide information on the cell phenotypes within live cells. It will also allow Queen's investigators to perform high throughput screening and dose response studies that are needed to develop new tools to uncover the molecular basis of cell movement, cell-cell interactions, cell division, and cell death. The IncuCyte ZOOM imaging system will be located within the Queen’s University Biomedical Imaging Centre, allowing for easy access and effective maintenance of this system. Notably, this imaging platform will provide training for a new generation of cell biologists that will enter the work force with highly desirable skill sets used in industry and academia.