Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Funds are urgently needed to replace an outdated, malfunctioning flow cytometer to maintain research programs within four research groups at Trent University. The new instrument will be used by biologists who use mouse models to understand immune and stem cell responses within muscle and fat in response to physiological stress (Tobin and Robertson Labs), molecular biologists who seek to understand how Giardia, the parasite responsible for "Beaver Fever" reproduces (Yee Lab), and ecologists who investigate how freshwater ecosystems respond to global change (Xenopoulos Lab). These diverse research themes require a flow cytometer, as it provides a better understanding of biological mechanisms that cannot be investigated using any other instrument on campus. Flow cytometry is a powerful tool used to quantify cells that can be used by biologists in various fields, from physiology to cell biology to ecology as it reveals fundamental properties about cellular and molecular diversity. For example, within a single sample one can use flow cytometry and specialized antibodies to count how many immune cells and sub populations are present in a tissue. In addition to cell quantification, it can be used to determine the activity level of individual cells such as whether they are replicating or dormant. The methods to process samples for flow cytometry depends on whether they are derived from animal tissues, cellular isolates, or water samples, but in most cases, samples are fluorescently labelled to identify specific cells, cellular events or sub-cellular particles for data acquisition (cell and/or particle counting) in the flow cytometer. Sample preparation, processing, and analysis of flow cytometry data are highly sought after skills that can be transferred to diverse fields that range from medicine to environmental sciences. Research associates and graduate and undergraduate research students within the Robertson, Tobin, Xenopoulos, and Yee Labs will be trained in the field of flow cytometry, an invaluable technique for future career opportunities in biology. Without a new flow cytometer these hands-on experiences for trainees will be lost, impacting career development and research productivity. Our research groups exemplify diverse fields of biology in which flow cytometry is a required tool that will be used to enhance our understanding of cell-cell communication, fundamental features of unicellular organisms, and global change.