Full Spectrum Flow Cytometer - PROJECT SUMMARY The Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) was formed with the goal of catalyzing collaborations by building and operating a new stem cell research facility that houses inter-institutional and multi- disciplinary scientific laboratories. It draws together under the same roof researchers from five major institutions: UC San Diego, The Salk Institute, The La Jolla Institute for Immunology, The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Scripps Research. Shared resources play a significant role in allowing these research collaborations to advance. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility (HESCCF) is the largest of the three shared facilities at SCRM and the largest flow cytometry core facility at UC San Diego. Its mission is to provide its users with research space and high-end equipment, which include flow cytometry, electrophysiology, and various imaging platforms. There has been an increase in demand for a modern, state-of-the-art flow cytometer, the top choice being the full-spectrum Cytek Aurora model. In particular, users are showing an interest in expanding their flow cytometry staining panels to analyze 40 plus parameters and be equipped with 96-well plate high-throughput screening. This is well beyond the parameter channel limit of even our most well-equipped analyzer, the BD Fortessa X20. This is an unmet need for all UC San Diego researchers, as all shared flow cytometry facilities in the area are either a) limited by maximum number of lasers and color emission channels; b) unavailable to UC San Diego researchers; or c) the rates are too high for external users. The high demand for this emerging technology is also evident from the equipment in neighboring labs and cores, most of which are still equipped with standard flow cytometry analyzers without high throughput sampling, and not the more evolved full-spectrum analyzers with multi-well plate sample acquisition. The purpose of this grant is to address the need for a shared core facility full-spectrum analyzer that will serve the needs of all five SCRM member institutions. We propose to use the funding from this application to purchase a Cytek Aurora (5 lasers, 63 parameters, 96 well plate high-throughput sample acquisition system). The new instrument will be located in the main section of the HESSCF. The intent is for this analyzer to be exclusively available to researchers interested in analyzing all complexity of multiparametric staining panels and fluorescent proteins, but especially high parameter panels and samples exhibiting FRET. The HESCCF has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of all research at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. We strive to continue to provide necessary resources, technical expertise, and research space. With the support of our institution and our qualified staff we ensure that the Cytek Aurora will be maintained and used to its full potential.
