A Benchtop Cell Sorter for Accelerating the Discovery of Physiopathological Processes

我们的身体拥有大约100万亿个细胞，可以分为数百种不同的类型。每种细胞类型在其所属的器官或组织内完成高度特异性的功能。我们仍然有很多要了解所有细胞类别及其特定功能。这些知识不仅对了解生物体的基本生物学，而且对了解人类健康都极为重要。事实上，异常的细胞功能和调节是人类和动物疾病的基础，包括癌症，糖尿病，脑损伤和传染病。 我们的研究小组正在研究新发现或以前分类的各种细胞类型的生物学功能。为了更好地了解细胞功能，我们需要严格分离直接来自哺乳动物器官或在培养皿中操作后的各种细胞类型。这些细胞被少量或大量地收获，用于各种研究。为了实现这一目标，细胞生物学家使用细胞分选，这是现代生物工程最非凡的应用之一。 目前的应用程序汇集了九个NSERC资助的团队，他们每天都需要进行细胞分选。因此，所需的设备是必不可少的，为每个研究计划的完成。我们的研究无疑将在几个层面上使加拿大受益：1）所要求的细胞分选机将大大加强我们已经很好的培训环境，从而为加拿大劳动力提供更高素质的人力资源。2)所获得的科学数据构成了保持加拿大在竞争激烈的细胞生物学研究领域的世界领先地位所需的知识。3)我们的研究可以作为建立新的诊断工具和治疗策略的主要平台，以对抗各种疾病。

Our body hosts about 100 trillion cells that can be categorized into hundreds of different types. Each cell type accomplishes highly specific functions within the organ or tissue to which it belongs. We still have much to learn about all cell categories and their specific functions. Such knowledge is extremely important for understanding not only the fundamental biology of living organisms, but also human health. Indeed, abnormal cell function and regulation is the basis of human and animal illnesses including cancer, diabetes, brain damage and infectious diseases. Our research groups are investigating the biological functions of various cell types which are either newly-identified or previously categorized. To better understand cell function, we need to rigorously isolate various cell types originating directly from mammalian organs, or following manipulation in a culture dish. These cells are harvested in small or large quantities to be used for various investigations. To accomplish this, cell biologists use cell sorting, one of the most extraordinary applications of modern bioengineering. The current application brings together a group of nine NSERC-funded teams for whom cell sorting is critically required daily. Therefore, the requested equipment is indispensable for the accomplishment of each research program. Our research will undoubtedly benefit Canada on several levels: 1) The requested cell sorter will greatly enhance our already excellent training environment, thus providing the Canadian workforce with more highly qualified human resources. 2) The acquired scientific data constitutes knowledge that is needed to maintain Canada as a world leader in the highly competitive field of cell biology research. 3) Our research can be used as a major platform for establishing novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies in the battle against various diseases.