Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The aim of this RTI is to obtain funds toward the purchase of a new Cytek Northern Lights spectral flow cytometer (3-lasers, 38-detectors). Currently, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have access to a single flow cytometer (i.e., Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX (3-lasers, 12-detectors)) which has had several malfunctions over the last 2 years including 3 months during 2023 when the machine was sent to Miami for repairs. This has resulted in significant research impediments to a number of lab groups as >40 trainees regularly use the CytoFLEX. The Northern Lights would provide an immediate alternative for flow cytometry users and serves as a long-term replacement for the CytoFLEX. Additionally, due to the advancements in spectral flow cytometry, the Northern Lights would serve as a significant technological upgrade allowing researchers to interrogate biological questions in finer detail. Related to the research performed by the PI laboratory, this machine will be a workhorse utilized to dissect the mechanistic underpinnings related to the production and function of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in the thymus which is the focus of a submitted NSERC Discovery Grant. We have observed that the deletion of ASCs leads to increased production of T cells specifically in the thymus of male mice. T cells are essential contributors to the immune response. A loss in their production results in an immune compromised state while alterations in how these cells are regulated in development can lead to the generation of autoimmunity. In general, autoimmune prevalence is significantly increased in the female sex. Thus, understanding the basic signals/mechanisms that program ASCs to regulate T cell production in the male thymus may provide fundamental insights into the reasons that females are more prone (and males less prone) to autoimmunity. Flow cytometry is a fundamental technique performed by every immunology lab and is becoming highly utilized by labs performing research related to cancer biology, mechanisms of aging and infectious diseases to name a few. As such, all highly qualified personnel (HQP) that perform research in the Pioli lab and many USask trainees in general will learn this technique. More importantly, they will have the opportunity to become experts while using cutting-edge technology (i.e., Northern Lights) which will position them for success in future endeavours (e.g., postdoc, clinical researcher, sales rep, technology development, flow cytometry core manager). Additionally, this machine will be made available as a shared resource to the USask scientific community. By doing so, all current and future trainees in current "flow user" labs will benefit from the use of this machine. Aside from the training related benefits, this machine will greatly contribute to the scientific progress of numerous USask labs and lead to the generation of data that will serve as the foundation of future NSERC-related funding proposals.