High Performance Research Flow Cytometer

描述(由申请人提供)：波士顿大学医学院/波士顿医学中心校区(BUSM/BMC)的54名NIH资助的研究人员(13名主要用户，41名次要用户)在他们的NIH资助的研究中需要流式细胞仪。这些调查人员代表医疗中心内的大多数部门和部门，包括但不限于免疫学培训计划、癌症中心、肺科、淀粉样蛋白治疗和研究计划、妇女健康跨学科研究中心以及医学院、公共卫生和牙科学院的12个部门。然而，这些研究人员可用的流式细胞仪资源相对有限。在BUSM/BMC园区内有三台20世纪80年代的BD FACScans和一台操作员辅助的MoFlo细胞分选机。老化的FAC扫描明显过时，不足以用于许多利用新兴技术和染色试剂的更先进的研究。尽管对这项技术的需求不断增长，但所有仪器都达到或超过了满负荷。波士顿大学的调查人员几乎无法接触到波士顿地区其他研究机构提供的更复杂的设备。与公共健康高度相关的研究(例如，癌症、自身免疫和传染病的治疗；癌症的环境原因)由于缺乏适当的仪器而严重受损。需要资金用于购买Becton Dickinson LSR II高性能流式细胞仪，配备用于11色(可升级到18色)检测的固态激光、自动补偿、高采样率、先进的信号检测和数据处理以及96孔高通量样品加载器。LSR II将极大地提高细胞分析能力，并将吸引BUSM/BMC社区的其他成员参与需要这项关键技术的合作研究。具体应用将包括：检测罕见的淋巴细胞亚群，准确评估特定细胞亚群内的激酶活性、细胞激活、增殖、凋亡、细胞因子产生和钙离子流动。北卡罗来纳大学拥有重要的专业知识来进行这些研究。与新兴技术相结合，LSR II将极大地提高该机构调查人员获取数据的效率、质量和能力，同时降低成本。认识到这些目标，BUSM/BMC致力于为这一工具及其应用提供持续的大量资金支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Fifty four NIH-funded investigators (13 major users, 41 minor users) at the Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center Campus (BUSM/BMC) require flow cytometry for their NIH-funded studies. These investigators represent most of the departments and divisions within the medical center including, but not limited to the Immunology Training Program, the Cancer Center, the Pulmonary Division, the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program, the Women's Health Interdisciplinary Research Center, and 12 departments in the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Dentistry. However, relatively limited flow cytometry resources are available to these investigators. There are three 1980s era BD FACScans and one operator-assisted MoFlo cell sorter on the BUSM/BMC campus. The ageing FACScans are significantly outdated and are insufficient for many of the more advanced studies which exploit emerging technologies and staining reagents. All the instruments are at or beyond full capacity even as the demand for this technology grows. BU investigators have little if any access to the more sophisticated equipment available at other research facilities in the Boston area. Research that is highly relevant to public health (e.g., treatments for cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease; environmental causes of cancer) is severely compromised by this lack of appropriate instrumentation. Funds are requested for the purchase of a Becton Dickinson LSR II high performance flow cytometer with solid state lasers for 11 color (upgradable to 18 color) detection, automatic compensation, a high sampling rate, advanced signal detection and data processing, and a 96-well high throughput sample loader. The LSR II would dramatically improve cell analysis capabilities and would draw other members of the BUSM/BMC community into collaborative studies requiring this essential technology. Specific applications would include: detection of rare lymphocyte subsets and accurate assessment of kinase activity, cell activation, proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine production, and Ca2+ flux within specific cell subpopulations. Significant expertise is present at BU to perform these studies. In conjunction with emerging technologies, the LSR II would dramatically enhance the efficiency, quality, and capability of data acquisition for investigators at this institution while reducing costs. In recognition of these goals, BUSM/BMC is committed to substantial ongoing financial support of this instrumentation and its applications.