Multi-User High Throughput Flow Cytometry System

流式细胞术是一种主要的技术，它提供了对细胞和颗粒特征的最先进的分析。温莎-埃塞克斯地区有超过3000万美元的研究资金，以及NSERC资助的依赖这项技术的大量生产性教师。CFI在2015年最初投资约100万美元，用于购买两台机器，一台BD FACSAria III融合细胞分选器和一台BD LSR Fortessa X20细胞分析仪，这两台机器的功能是支持该地区的流式细胞仪需求。对于这些研究人员来说，几乎没有其他的后备选择。这项建议旨在为该设备增加包括高吞吐量模块，这些模块将加快处理速度，允许使用较小的样本量，并将减少我们博士级别的核心经理运行机器所花费的一些技术时间。该应用程序还包括对这些机器的软件的更新，该软件将提供远程门户许可证，允许学生和受训人员在他们自己的计算机上分析他们的数据，从而提高他们的学习质量，并开放机器供其他用户进行样本处理。购买模块以升级这一设施，使其能够以高通量的方式对小体积样品进行分类和分析，这将使新型实验和分析能够在温莎地区内进行。这将提升许多学生的培训体验，并将在购买后的头几年内推动多达22个由NSERC资助的实验室向前发展。这项投资还将为该设施带来新的用户，扩大这项投资的覆盖范围，并支持这些重要机器的长期生存能力。

Flow cytometry is a staple technique which provides state-of-the art analysis of the characteristics of cells and particles. The Windsor-Essex region has over $30M in research funding and a large base of productive NSERC funded faculty which depend on this technology. An initial ~$1M investment by CFI in 2015 funded the purchase of two machines, a BD FACSAria III Fusion Cell Sorter and a BD LSR Fortessa X20 Cell Analyzer, which function as work horses to support the flow cytometry needs in this region. There is literally no other back up option for these researchers. This proposal is toward adding to this equipment to include high throughput modules that will speed up processing, allow for small sample volumes to be used and will alleviate some of the technical time spent running the machine by our PhD level core manager. This application also includes an update to the software for these machines which will provide a remote portal license that permits students and trainees to analyze their data on their own computers, thereby elevating the quality of their learning and opening up the machines for sample processing by other users. Acquiring modules to upgrade this facility to be capable of sorting and analyzing small volume samples in a high throughput manner will enable new types of experiments and analysis to be conducted within the Windsor region. This will elevate the training experience for many students and will propel up to 22 NSERC funded labs forward within the first few years after purchase. This investment will also bring new users to the facility, increasing the reach of this investment and supporting the long-term viability of these important machines.