Flow cytometry includes both analytical cytometry and cell sorting and is an extremely useful tool for a broad range of basic research projects. Cytometry can rapidly provide quantitative information regarding a wide variety of cellular properties, including DNA content, expression of surface, cytoplasmic, and nuclear antigens, receptor-ligand interactions, chromosome analysis, phagocytosis, target-effector cell binding, ion fluxes, expression of genes or gene products, and various light scattering properties. Another useful cytometry tool that we provide services for is multi-omic studies focusing on genomic and protein expression. The CF provides services that utilize Bruker’s NanoString platforms which generate bulk and digital spatial profiling (DSP) data, including single cell DSP data from the CosMx platform.
The mission of the Hillman Cytometry Facility (CF) is to:
- Train investigators, their students and staff to use analytical cytometry to its fullest advantage in their research.
- Basic and advanced training in the use of all facility cytometers is offered continuously.
- The core facility is available to trained users 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Provide high quality cell separation by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS);
- The CF provides both user-operated and staff-operated cell sorting service. Training for self-operated use of the Sony sorter is available. Staff assisted projects are run on the Thermo Bigfoot duel conventional / spectral high-speed sorter.
- Facility is operated as a BSL-2+ facility and can sort live human cells and cells transfected with retroviral constructs.
- Operate and maintain the cytometers as well as the NanoString platforms.
- The multi-omics assays that the CF performs is a certified (by NanoString) service and as such, aids with project and study design, sample preparation, probe sequencing and facilitating avenues for data analysis.
- Consult on experimental design, analysis and assay development on flow cytometry and multi-omics studies, available to Hillman investigators without charge.
The CF offers several platforms:
