The Flow Cytometry Suite is proudly sponsored by:
Flow Cytometry Suite
Flow cytometry is the one technique that underpins all of the research groups at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and is the main technology essential for integrating all of our research projects. Approximately 90% of the scientific staff at the Institute utilise flow cytometry as a research tool in their quest to develop immune-based therapies for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, asthma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and infectious diseases.
In simple terms, flow
cytometry works by utilising lasers to excite fluorescent dyes that are
attached to a cell type of interest via an antibody specific for that
cell. This enables recognition,
characterisation and subsequent sorting of cells of interest.
The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Flow Cytometry Core offers state-of-the-art analysis and cell sorting, including the isolation and analysis of haemopoietic and cancer stem cells. The flow cytometry Core at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research aims to provide crucial services, support and training not only to its own research staff, but also to the wider scientific community especially in regards to new clinical research opportunities.
Instruments:
The Malaghan Institute Flow Cytometry Core maintains the following instruments: three bench-top analysers (two 4 colour and one 18 colour), a 96-well plate reader and one sorter (7 colour).
Cell sorting at the Malaghan Institute is performed on a BD FACSVantage DiVa; a high performance, high speed, cell sorter that can analyse up to 10,000 individual cells per second. Sorted cells are then returned to the researcher who continues their study into how this cell of interest may be involved in the disease they are studying.
Earlier this year the Malaghan Institute was fortunate to secure funding to purchase the latest technology in flow cytometry, an LSRII benchtop flow cytometer. The LSRII is a Special Order Research Product (SORP) from Becton Dickinson, and with five lasers instead of the standard three lasers, it is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The flow cytometry Core also boasts two four-colour benchtop analysers, a BD FACSort and BD FACSCalibur, and a Bio-Rad BioPlex suspension array system.
For further information please contact:
Kylie Price
Flow Cytometry Suite Manager
Tel: +64 4 499 6914
Email: kprice@malaghan.org.nz
