5-Laser Multiparameter Flow Cytometer

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 557730384

Multi-parameter flow cytometry has been developed to one of the most important technologies for a comprehensive analysis of immune cells (Analyzer) or for sorting of distinct cell subpopulations (Sorter) in Immunology and Medicine. Here, we apply for a high-end multi-parameter flow cytometer (Analyzer), that allows for the analysis of 50 different parameters in a single run. The instrument will be located at the Institute of Immunology at Jena University Hospital and will be incorporated into the existing Device Center ‘Cytometry’. The high-end flow cytometer will strengthen and expand the immunological focus of the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, in particular the University Hospital in regard to the three priority research areas and the herein embedded research consortia: 1) "Sepsis and Infection Medicine" - with the Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), 2) "Oncology" – with the newly established Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, CCCG - and 3) "Ageing and Age-Associated Diseases". Prospectively, the high-end multi-parameter flow cytometer will also be a central and critical component of currently prepared applications for DFG joint projects, e.g. the clinical research group "Compartmentalization and divergent host responses in human sepsis" or the re-application of the excellence initiative ‘Balance of the Microverse’. The Institute of Immunology founded the Device Center ‘Cytometry’ with support of the medical faculty of the University Hospital Jena in 2019. At the current state, the Device Center ‘Cytometry’ provides access to fluorescence-based cell sorting (10 parameter) and cell analysis (10 and 12 parameter) as well as mass cytometry-based cell analysis (CyTOF, about 30 parameter). Besides, historical grown satellite devices that allow for 10-20 parameter flow cytometry analysis and 20 parameter self-operated cell-sorting are available at the university hospital campus Lobeda. Starting from this organizational structure, preparations are ongoing for an application for a DFG supported Device Center that incorporates satellite flow cytometry instruments into an operator supported core facility ‘Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting’ within the next 2 years. Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak is a highly experienced scientist in multi-parameter flow cytometry leading a core unit ‘Flow cytometry and Immunomonitoring’ before. The access to state-of-the-art equipment is of crucial importance in order to conduct cutting-edge immunological research at the highest scientific level at the research area in Jena.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 5-Laser Multiparameter Durchflusszytometer
• Instrumentation Group: 3500 Zellzähl- und Klassiergeräte (außer Blutanalyse), Koloniezähler
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Diana Dudziak