Acquisition of a flow cytometry cell sorter (360G-Wellcome-088532_Z_09_Z)

The Centres for Infection and Immunity (CII) and for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) are jointly requesting funding to acquire a new state-of-the-art multi-parametric Fluorescent Activating Cell Sorting flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson ARIA II). We currently do not have access to a functional FACS flow cytometer, and the local availability of a FACS flow cytometer would have an immediate impact on a number of research groups within the two centres by facilitating progress in novel research directions that are currently unavailable to us. Named investigators require the ability to purify pure populations of specific cell types to define their bearing on important diseases involving inflammation, viral infection, and cancer. The CII and CCRCB bring together internationally competitive and multidisciplinary research groups of the highest quality to improve patient care through both basic fundamental and translational research programs for which access to a FACS flow cytometry is primordial. QUB has agreed to contribute to 25% of purchasing cost of a new BD FACS ARIA II, and therefore we are requesting for 75% of the purchasing cost and 5 years funding for the maintenance costs of the machine totalling 193,555.50 from the Wellcome Trust.