Acquisition of a FACSymphony S6 Sorter for the University of Toledo Flow Cytometry Core - This is a shared instrumentation grant application to acquire a BD FACSymphony S6 flow cytometer to replace a 16-year-old BD FACS Aria™ IIu for the University of Toledo (UToledo) Flow Cytometry Core (FCC). The FCC services both the UToledo Health Science and Main Campus research communities. Our BD FACSAria™ IIu is the only cell sorter available at UToledo for research and graduate student research training. The FACSAria™ IIu is three generations removed from current flow-based technology. The benefit of replacing the current end-of-life flow cytometer in the UToledo FCC is multifold. First, replacing the existing cell sorter will allow current and new users with NIH funding to continue to access this important technology for their experimental design. Failure to replace the current instrument in the near future will result in the loss of this extremely valuable tool for experimental applications in molecular biology, pathology, virology, immunology and cell biology due to end-of-life notice from the manufacturer. Second, replacing the current instrumentation with a new state of the art flow sorter will enhance the ongoing research of our established core. Our users will have access to experts in flow cytometry who will facilitate consultation, training and analysis with long-term benefits for sustaining the research enterprise with cutting edge instrumentation and a track record of long-term institutional support including a greater than $129,000 cost share. Faculty, staff and students will be able to move forward with innovative experiments with ease and efficiency due to the expertise that the established core facility provides to the UToledo research community. Lastly, state of the art instrumentation plays an integral role in the intellectual environment, recruitment and retention of talented faculty, staff and students. We continue to advance the research activity within UToledo’s COMLS and have recently been recognized as a nationally ranked medical school for research, have received funding of a new T-32 G-RISE award to support training of students underrepresented in translational and biomedical research. This new instrument represents a unique resource that is in high demand within our research community. This instrument will help to advance the scientific goals of nine major NIH-sponsored projects and promote the development of new projects by existing minor and new users. Importantly, this fits well in our overall strategy to improve the significance and impact of our research within the college and for the benefit of our nation and world.
