Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Cell sorters are routinely used for the isolation of subpopulations of cells from heterogenous mixtures (such as whole organs) for functional characterization; isolation of single cells for example, for the study of individual cell gene expression profiles within a population of cells; generation of clonal populations of gene-modified cells for further mechanistic analysis; and the purification of organelles, such as mitochondria or nuclei for accurate analysis of protein expression and activity in specific subcellular compartments. In brief, access to a powerful cell sorting technology is essential to a wide variety of research programs in natural sciences that fall within the NSERC mandate.*We propose in the present application to acquire a three-laser, 8-fluorochrome, fully automated biosafety level II cell sorter that would add to our existing bioimaging platform and would be used by 20 research groups at the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier. The current cell sorter has a very limited capacity in terms of number of parameters, sensitivity and resolution of detection, and the actual sorting output rate (low rate greatly limits its use for the purification of rare events, for example); it is also discontinued, which means it cannot be upgraded, and it does not provide a biosafety level II environment. This means that the applicants are forced to travel across town to use facilities at other institutions, which presents not only a biosafety risk but also diminishes sample quality and yield.*In summary, the acquisition of a multiparameter cell sorter at INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier is essential and urgent for the continuity of our research programs, efficient training of highly qualified personnel, and for the recruitment of new high caliber scientists.