Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
Université de Sherbrooke
$150,000.00
Acquisition of an Automated High-Throughput Cell Imaging System
EF 2017-18
Résumé
Live-cell imaging of cellular dynamics has become an essential part of research programs in molecular and cellular biology. Such technology allows scientists to monitor cell fate and gather critical temporally- and spatially-defined phenotypic information in response to virtually any treatment. Until very recently, these experiments were performed on highly expensive high-content imaging systems (often $500,000) for which data analysis requires specialized dedicated personnel and which can usually only handle a single experiment at once making this technology difficult to access in multi-lab departments. In contrast to these cumbersome alternatives, the requested Incucyte S3 live-cell analysis system is affordable and easy to run. This automated microscope can address complex biological questions by acquiring images in 3 channels (Phase contrast, Red and Green) at a currently unsurpassed speed and can simultaneously perform 6 independent experiments making it the ideal imaging system for our needs. Since our department is currently devoid of a suitable long-term live-imaging platform , many research programs are stalled because they have to rely on end-point analyses to characterize cellular phenotypes. These analyses are time- and ressource-consuming, much less precise than real-time data collection and inherently biased as they are centered on a limited number of datapoints which may cause experimenters to overlook relevant phenotypes. We request funding to purchase this high-throughput live-cell imaging microscope platform, that is otherwise unavailable on the main campus of the Universit de Sherbrooke, to support our research in many fields including immunology, genome maintenance, chromatin regulation, neuronal development, cell biology and genetics. This instrument is essential for our research programs, and will enable many new projects as well as contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel from several laboratories in both the Biology and Engineering departments of our University.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Quebec, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
RTI-2018-00813
Name nom
Maréchal, Alexandre
Department département
Biologie - Biologie
Organization id
68
Institution établissement
Université de Sherbrooke
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
150000
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1601
Committee name en
Genes, Cells and Molecules (RTI)
Committee name fr
Gènes, cellules et molécules (OIR)
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
5113
Research subject group en
Cell biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie cellulaire
Research subject en
Chromosomes
Research subject fr
Chromosomes
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Acquisition of an Automated High-Throughput Cell Imaging System
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Live-cell imaging of cellular dynamics has become an essential part of research programs in molecular and cellular biology. Such technology allows scientists to monitor cell fate and gather critical temporally- and spatially-defined phenotypic information in response to virtually any treatment. Until very recently, these experiments were performed on highly expensive high-content imaging systems (often $500,000) for which data analysis requires specialized dedicated personnel and which can usually only handle a single experiment at once making this technology difficult to access in multi-lab departments. In contrast to these cumbersome alternatives, the requested Incucyte S3 live-cell analysis system is affordable and easy to run. This automated microscope can address complex biological questions by acquiring images in 3 channels (Phase contrast, Red and Green) at a currently unsurpassed speed and can simultaneously perform 6 independent experiments making it the ideal imaging system for our needs. Since our department is currently devoid of a suitable long-term live-imaging platform , many research programs are stalled because they have to rely on end-point analyses to characterize cellular phenotypes. These analyses are time- and ressource-consuming, much less precise than real-time data collection and inherently biased as they are centered on a limited number of datapoints which may cause experimenters to overlook relevant phenotypes. We request funding to purchase this high-throughput live-cell imaging microscope platform, that is otherwise unavailable on the main campus of the Universit de Sherbrooke, to support our research in many fields including immunology, genome maintenance, chromatin regulation, neuronal development, cell biology and genetics. This instrument is essential for our research programs, and will enable many new projects as well as contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel from several laboratories in both the Biology and Engineering departments of our University.
