Full Spectrum Cell Sorter for Nottingham and the Midlands

The University of Nottingham has a large portfolio of biological research, fundamental to which is the understanding of cell biology. This application requests funding for the next generation of cell sorter, namely a 'spectral cell sorter', which will be utilised to analyse and purify individual cells and populations from vast and complex samples. Applications for this cell sorter include isolation of cells involved in the generation of aberrant allergic reactions to food and other stimuli, isolation of immune cells that alter the acceptance or rejection embryos, isolation of bacterial cells to understand the mechanisms of biofilm creation and antimicrobial resistance, the isolation cells with novel synthetic biological traits and the screening, and isolation of cells from trypanosomes which are significant human and animal pathogens. Once purified these cells are a unique resource that can be cultured, banked or mined through other significant technologies, including next-generation sequencing. The timing of this application is driven by both the emergence of spectral flow cytometry technology, in which Nottingham is playing a leading role, and the obsolescence of the previous generation of cell sorting technology. Nottingham is ready with the infrastructure, established core facility and highly skilled research technicians to enable this application and unlock the research potential of the region.



We propose to host the first spectral cell sorter in the Midlands fully open to academic and commercial partners to leverage this step change in technology across a broad portfolio of biological research. We will establish a spectral cell sorting facility that will be provided on a service basis, complementing an existing spectral analysis service. We will also provide training for our next generation of early career researchers and technicians, with hands-on 'super user training', as well as our range of established training programmes and instructional videos at Nottingham, and the Midlands Innovation Flow Cytometry Group.



This application aligns with the University's key research priorities 'to develop a research environment and culture that is inclusive, supportive, and enables high quality and high performing research' and 'to support and drive research of the highest quality and ambition through infrastructure and platforms of excellence' (University of Nottingham Research Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-27). The sorter will support research across the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering and Science and will accelerate cutting-edge biological research at Nottingham and beyond to provide academic and industrial partners with an entirely new capability to isolate cells in unprecedented detail.