Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Description of the equipment requested and proposed use: Live-cell imaging allows the direct visualization of dynamic and complex fundamental cellular processes, behaviors, and cell-cell interactions. Particularly, long-term imaging, from hours to weeks, requires specialized image acquisition and analysis system. In this NSERC-RTI application, we are requesting a replacement for a long-term, live-imaging system and have chosen the purchase of an Incucyte S3 live-imaging system with accompanying analysis software modules to fill that need. The Incucyte S3 is a fully automated, hands-free imaging system, uniquely designed to operate and capture images within a standard tissue culture incubator, providing a controlled environment crucial for cellular assays, and to accommodate all types of plastic tissue culture vessels which can be imaged simultaneously allowing multiple users at a time. The system can perform long-term imaging that can exceed months if required and can generate label-free growth curve as well as fluorescence measurements. This instrument has reached end-of-life and has been instrumental for the establishment of the applicant's lab (Côté) and the success of her research program that focuses on the investigation of the roles and modulation of endosomal phosphoinositides in cells, as well as those of the co-applicants (Lagacé, Fullerton, Vanderhyden) that focuses on studying the autophagy pathway in neurogenesis, roles of choline in immune cells, and genetic determinants of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, respectively. The proposed imaging system will be integrated to the uOttawa Cell Biology and Image Acquisition (CBIA) core facility. This will also allow multiple research teams within the uOttawa/Affiliated Hospital and Research Institutes/Carleton University scientific community to have inclusive access to this versatile instrument with unique capabilities. Anticipated outcomes, benefits to HQP training and Canada's leading role in the Natural Sciences: The acquisition of a replacement for the Incucyte imaging system will ensure regional capability in long-term, live-imaging technologies and the continuity and success of the applicants' research programs enabling important discoveries in the natural sciences. Integration of the imaging system to the CBIA core will ensure equitable access to all scientists of the Ottawa region. This will allow HQPs from our diverse and inclusive research community to request individualized and tailored training in state-of-the-art techniques for the characterization of cellular function, differentiation, cell-cell interaction, and high-throughput screening in the fields of cellular biology, stem cell research, immunology, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition to name a few. These skills will prepare them well for successful careers in academia, industry, and the public-health sector and for their contributions to Canada's leading roles in research and technology.