Although flow cytometry has become a critical tool for analyzing immune cell populations in tissues, the technique is limited to approximately 18-20 parameters due to a number of technical issues. To address those limitations, an alternative technology has been developed. This technique ? Cytometry by Time Of Flight (CyTOF) employs heavy-metal labeled probes instead of traditional fluorescent-labeled probes. In this technique, cells are nebulized into a single-cell stream before being vaporized by an argon laser, and the resulting ion cloud analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This is a relatively mature technology, whose application has resulted in fundamental new discoveries in the biological mechanisms underlying human immune responses in cancer, infectious diseases and basic immunology. Currently, this cutting-edge technology is not readily available to the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) research community. While an instrument is in place at Mount Sinai School of Medicine across town, it is both fully utilized and geographically challenging for CUMC to access this equipment. Based on a prospective survey of CUMC scientists, we have identified at least 6 NIH-funded major users as well as a large number of minor users. The proposed applications are diverse, leveraging the various scientific strengths of a number of CUMC labs. Some examples include Dr. Dalla-Favera?s work on understanding the phenotype of Large B Cell Lymphoma, Dr. Donna Farber?s ongoing studies of the tissue localization of human T cells, and Dr. Syke?s investigations into the basic cellular mechanisms of allograft rejection. The leadership of CUMC is strongly supportive of the acquisition of this instrument, and will provide significant additional funds beyond those requested in the S10 application. In addition, dedicated space has been allocated within the well-established CCTI Flow Cytometry Core where the instrument will be located and managed. Overall we hypothesize that the establishment of a CyTOF instrument on the CUMC campus will be pivotal in driving new scientific insights across a number of projects and disciplines.

Public Health Relevance

Cytometry based on Time Of Flight (CyTOF) technology permits unparalleled, high-dimensional analysis of cells, facilitating either in-depth interrogation of a single population, or accurate, simultaneous characterization of the various elements in a mixed cellular population, such as that seen a sample of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This state of the art (SOTA) technology is currently unavailable to dozens of scientists at Columbia University Medical Center whose research would be potentially transformed by access to a CyTOF instrument. The flow cytometry core in the Columbia Center for Translational Immunology (CCTI) is an established and well managed facility. We are thus requesting funds to partially fund the acquisition of a CyTOF instrument, to be installed and managed in the CCTI flow core.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Type
Biomedical Research Support Shared Instrumentation Grants (S10)
Project #
1S10OD025218-01
Application #
9493769
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Horska, Alena
Project Start
2018-03-15
Project End
2019-03-14
Budget Start
2018-03-15
Budget End
2019-03-14
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032