Project Summary: An administrative supplement is requested to support the purchase of a state-of-the-art
flow cytometer (Cytek Aurora 4 laser with small particle detector), which has been designed for high content
panels (>20 fluorophores in a single cell suspension) and evaluation of antigens on extracellular vessicles (i.e.,
via a small particle detector. The Aurora takes advantage of spectral flow cytometry technology, where a full
fluorescence emission spectrum is collected following cell excitation with various lasers (red, yellow-green,
blue, violet), and then the spectra are deconvolved (i.e., “unmixed”) such that each of the 20+ distinct
fluorophores can be quantified. This allows quantification of many antigens on a single cell or extracellular
vesicle, dramatically expanding the range of biological or immunological questions that the experiment can
interrogate. This new equipment capability, which is not available at the University of Oklahoma (OU), will
significantly advance the principal investigator (PI)’s ability to do cutting-edge research in the areas of drug
delivery, immunoengineering, and inflammation. The ability to elevate immunoengineering and inflammation
research to this next level will make a pivotal positive contribution toward the PI’s career as general medical
research and an extramurally funded NIH/NIGMS investigator. The associated research project is currently
funded via the NIH/NIGMS R35 mechanism. Letters of support are provided, confirming broad support for this
equipment’s purchase and implementation at OU, by multiple NIGMS-funded investigators, the PI’s home
department, and a broad network of immunoengineering collaborators at OU and OU Health Sciences Center
(OUHSC). Further, a fee-based shared use model is described, to ensure the long-term sustainability of
maintaining the instrument (i.e., with consumables, supplies, and manufacturer contracts for preventative
maintenance) for research use. If funded, the PI commits to making the equipment available to the University
of Oklahoma (OU) research community via an established core facility model (Immunoengineering Core). A
letter of support from the core director is provided, confirming this institutional plan and support. The PI will
further encourage expanded equipment use through focused trainings or technical workshops. The PI will
focus training efforts on accelerating instrument access for early-stage investigators (ESI) at OU who, with the
additional technical and equipment support, could become future NIGMS investigators as PI.
