Flow Cytometry Core Facility
Flow cytometry is a powerful technology that enables high-throughput analysis of heterogeneous populations of cells at the single cell level, providing researchers with valuable information of cell function in health and disease.
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility (FCC) at the Research Campus of the University Hospital Cologne is a central technology platform for cell sorting and analysis, which supports all research groups of the University of Cologne on the Life Science Campus of the Medical and Natural Sciences Faculty, independent of their group affiliation or location. Our central service facility aims to overcome the current bottleneck in flow cytometry research infrastructure and enable access to this technology for scientists in various disciplines.
Upon experimental planning, please contact us for more information via ccf-flow@uk-koeln.de. We offer to advise and support you throughout all stages of your flow cytometry-based experiments and enable you to take full advantage of this advanced technology.
Team
Prof. Hamid Kashkar, Scientific Director
Dr. Marie-Christine Albert, Core Manager
Dr. Jaana Westmeier, Scientific Staff
Equipment
The CECAD unit of the FCC houses spectral analyzer Sony ID7000 (Room 2.903) and conventional analyzer BD LSRFortessa (Room 2.001) for non-infectious sample material. After safety and equipment instruction, the facility can be used independently. Please contact ccf-flow[at]uk-koeln.de for an initial instructory appointment.
The BD LSRFortessa, equipped with 4 lasers (Violet, Blue, Yellow/Green and Red), facilitates the detection of up to 16 different fluorochromes and enables a wide range of flow cytometry applications.
Keeping up with recent technologic advances and the increasing needs of flow cytometry assays, the FCC houses a Sony ID7000™ Spectral Cell Analyzer. The device, built on the latest technology that allows the discrimination of fluorochromes with similar emission peaks, harbors 5 lasers (355nm, 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 637nm) with full-spectral detectors for spectral unmixing. The ID7000 furthermore constitutes an autosampler for automated acquisition of 24 samples in 5ml tubes as well as 96-well and 384-well plates and a constant cooling system that can be set to 4°C.
To learn more about the other instruments and services of the FCC, please visit the Flow Cytometry Core website.
Service
- Access to state-of-the-art and well-maintained analyzers and sorters
- Cell sorting (safety levels S1 and S2) as a fully operated service by our core facility staff (please contact ccf-flow[at]uk-koeln.de for our sorting service)
- User training on analyzers to enable independent use
- Consultation on planning and implementation of flow cytometry-based experimental approaches
- Support with flow cytometry data analysis and interpretation
- Providing a powerful data analysis workstation and software licenses for analysis software (i.e. FlowJo)
FCC Booking System for BD LSRFortessa and Sony ID7000
FACS introductory training is required prior to registration and booking.
Booking via: uni-koeln.agendoscience.com
For cell sorting requests and more information, please refer to Flow Cytometry Core or contact ccf-flow[at]uk-koeln.de.