Automatisiertes Multiplex-Live-Cell-Imaging-System

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 533907460

Assessing cell behaviour in real time quantitatively over long time periods often provides striking insights into the physiological relevance of assessed cellular processes and strongly complements detailed biochemical and high throughput omics studies. Until recently, the significance of these experiments was often restricted by time-limited access to imaging resources, experimental artefacts caused by perturbances of cells in the process of imaging and complex analysis software solely dedicated to expert users. However, recent developments in automated live cell imaging techniques enable examining cellular metabolic and redox behaviour, cellular differentiation and motility, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, organoid and spheroid formation and cell death in real time with single cell resolution under unperturbed culture conditions. These modern Automated Multiplex Live Cell Imaging Systems are used in conjunction with various validated label-free, colour and fluorometric assays. Additionally, the hardware setups usually are sufficiently versatile to allow adding further measurement parameters as soon as assays for their visual or fluorescence-based monitoring become available. The device is intended for use as a central instrument in the Center for Molecular Biosciences (CoMB) at the University of Cologne. The CoMB is made up of working groups from the Institutes of Genetics, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Botany to investigate cellular physiology, metabolism and life cycles in an interdisciplinary manner. Research groups at the CoMB work on different topics in the area of “cellular biochemistry” using mainly models of cultured cells, primary cells, organoid cultures and systems for cell differentiation. For this research a large number of cell-based assays with a substantial throughput are required. The Automated Multiplex Live Cell Imaging System applied for in this proposal allows a wide variety of phenotypic studies. Moreover, it allows independent and highly reproducible time-delayed analyses of high numbers of samples in parallel (e.g. 6 x 96 well plates) and thus meeting the high demand of cell-based assays within the CoMB. Therefore, the acquisition of this modern Automated Multiplex Live Cell Imaging System will be a vital asset to many projects and cooperative endeavours carried out by the research groups at the CoMB and the Cologne campus.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Automated Multiplex Live Cell Imaging System
• Instrumentation Group: 5042 Mikroskope für Hochdurchsatz und Screening
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Leader: Professor Dr. Jan Riemer