Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter

描述（由申请人提供）：流式细胞术使研究人员能够根据其表达的蛋白质模式，从混合群体中鉴定、纯化和表征细胞。在哥伦比亚大学，像大多数其他机构一样，在原代细胞中开展研究的需求日益增长，这使得流式细胞术成为生物医学研究中越来越重要的工具。这些机构需求在很大程度上由哥伦比亚大学流式细胞术核心设施满足，该设施目前运行两台分析细胞仪（FACS Calibur和FACScan）和一台经过大幅改进的FACStar Plus细胞分选仪。该分选机最初于1991年通过共享仪器补助金购买，尽管经过修改，但已达到其使用寿命的极限。此外，随着新的FACS细胞分选平台的发展，对FACStar Plus平台的支持变得越来越困难。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Flow cytometry enables investigators to identify, purify and characterize cells from mixed populations, based on a pattern of proteins they express. At Columbia University, like most other institutions, the growing need to carry out studies in primary cells has made flow cytometry an increasingly essential tool for biomedical research. These institutional needs are in large part met by the Columbia University Flow Cytometry Core Facility, which currently operates two analytical cytometers (a FACS Calibur and FACScan) and a heavily modified FACStar Plus cell sorter. The sorter, originally purchased in 1991 through a Shared Instrumentation Grant, despite modifications, has reached the limit of its useful life. Moreover, with the development of the new FACS cell-sorting platform, support for the FACStar Plus platform is becoming more difficult. In this proposal we request funding to replace our FACStar Plus with a Becton-Dickinson (B-D) FACS Aria cell sorter. We propose to equip this sorter in its standard 3-laser configuration, providing it with all the features we require to carry out state-of-the-art accurate high-speed multi-parameter cell sorting. Additional support, for both the purchase and operation of this cell sorter will continue to be provided by Columbia University Cancer Center and user fees. Replacing our aging FACStar Plus with a modem FACS Aria cell sorter will not only enable the research community at Columbia University to remain competitive in several areas of biomedical research, but will also facilitate our ability to retain and recruit faculty, especially in the field of immunology.