5-Laser Flow cytometer

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: Funded in 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514808265

In the field of biomedical research, multi-parameter flow cytometry represents an indispensable technology for the clarification of fundamental immunobiological processes as a basis to develop new therapeutic approaches. Immunological aspects are coming to the fore in the most diverse directions of research, such as in the fields of neurology, aging and trauma research as well as in oncological basic and translational research - focal points of the research location Ulm. Being able to carry out cutting-edge research requires not only outstanding ideas and concepts, but also highly specialized equipment. The high-performance flow cytometer applied here (5 lasers, 30 fluorescence detectors, 2 scattered light detectors) is required to comprehensively - phenotypically and functionally - characterize rare and complex cell populations. Furthermore, the limitation in the sample material requires a simultaneous analysis of a large number of parameters. The need for a comprehensive characterization of heterogeneous immune cell populations also arises from the parallel investigation of the transcriptome at the single cell and population level. The projects of the working groups involved in this application absolutely require the existence of a high-performance flow cytometer as applied here in order to be able to realize the basic-oriented and translational research projects and to be able to further develop internationally and competitively.The high demand for a high-performance flow cytometer and the high acquisition costs speak in favor of integrating this device into the existing central core facility "Immune Monitoring", which offers all interested scientists optimal full service in the field of immune monitoring of humans and mice across all institutions. The integration of this device in the central core facility "Immune Monitoring" enables efficient use of the device as well as expert support for the user from planning to implementation and evaluation of the generated data. At present, the core facility "Immune Monitoring", equipped with a 3-laser device from Beckman Coulter (Gallios Flow Cytometer; 10 colors), has reached the limits of processing current and creative questions. The use of a more powerful analytical flow cytometer, equipped with 5 lasers and the possibility of detecting up to 30 colors, significantly increases the quality of the research results. Moreover, this opens up opportunities to implement complex, contemporary and innovative research approaches. This enables us to achieve therapeutically significant scientific results and on the other hand, to be able to persist in the competition for the acquisition of national and international joint and individual funding measures.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 5-Laser Durchflusszytometer
• Instrumentation Group: 3500 Zellzähl- und Klassiergeräte (außer Blutanalyse), Koloniezähler
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Cornelia Brunner