First of its kind flow cytometry event showcases spectral cytometry

Key points:

• The Institute’s Flow Cytometry team will host and contribute to a showcase event discussing spectral flow cytometry, a technique with unique capabilities and advantages for research.
• The event brings together international experts to share techniques and workflows for full spectral experiments.
• The event will be held on 10^th November at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge.

On 10^th November, the Institute will host flow cytometry specialists and researchers for a comprehensive symposium on spectral flow cytometry: Spectral Flow Cytometry Symposium: Unmixing the future of cytometry. This meeting, the first of its kind on spectral cytometry, brings together leading experts, technical specialists, researchers, and commercial cytometry equipment companies to discuss the current state of the technique, applications and future development.

Spectral cytometry has allowed scientists to increase the complexity of their flow cytometry experiments and has made high parameter flow cytometry more accessible with novel workflows. By increasing the number of parameters per sample fewer cells are needed, preserving precious samples, while the technique returns more information, for example revealing the heterogenicity of cell populations.

With an emphasis on community development and practical support for those wanting to know more about this technique, the symposium is structured to follow the process of a spectral experiment from start to finish while discussing practicalities, theory, and future direction.

Head of the Institute’s Flow Cytometry facility, Dr Rachael Walker, and organiser of the event said: “This meeting is important for anyone using flow cytometry in their research as it will highlight what you can get from a spectral cytometry experiment and show you where the future of flow cytometry is heading.”

Dr Walker is delighted to welcome internationally-recognised speakers working at the forefront of spectral cytometry in addition to showcasing the Institute’s facility, which has one of largest number of spectral flow cytometers in the world. The event programme covers:

• Keynote address: Why is spectral cytometry so critical for flow cytometry? 

Professor J. Paul Robinson, Director of Cytometry Laboratories and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Purdue University, USA

• Leveraging novel fluorophore technologies to enable flexible and higher dimensional immune profiling by spectral flow cytometry

Dr Seddon Thomas, Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Full Spectrum Profiling (FSP)™ – Best Practices and Tools to High Parameter Panel Design Success

Dr Adam Davison, Cytek BioSciences

• Do more with less: improving high parameter cytometry through overnight staining

Dr Oliver Burton, Babraham Institute

• The Secrets of Full Spectrum Panel Optimization

Dr Laura Ferrar Font, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

• Build your spectral intuition with maths and finger paints

Dr Peter Mage, Advanced Technologies Group, BD Biosciences

• Back to the Future- Unleashing your cytometer’s spectral potential

Christopher Hall, Babraham Institute

• Spectral analysis using the Sony ID7000: Tools for deeper discoveries

Dr Melanie Piédavent-Salomon, Sony Biotechnology

Keynote speaker and recognised international expert, Professor J. Paul Robinson, says of the technology: “Spectral cytometry has already made a huge impact, but the future for cytometry is just spectracular.”

To find out more about this event, including available discount codes, and the Institute’s Flow Cytometry facility visit the facility’s web pages, and to register for this event please visit: https://SFCS2022.eventbrite.co.uk. Registration closes on 27^th October.

Notes

Event contact: mailto:spectral@babraham.ac.uk

Image description

Colour spectrum graphic used to illustrate the whole spectrum analysis used in flow spectral cytometry.

Event sponsorship:

The Institute acknowledges the kind support of the following sponsors for this event:

• Applied Cytometry
• Babraham Research Campus
• BD
• BioLegend
• Bio-Rad
• Biostatus
• Cambridge Bioscience
• Cytek
• Dotmatics
• Miltenyi Biotec
• Sony
• Thermo Fisher Scientific

About the Institute’s Flow Cytometry facility

Headed by Dr Rachael Walker, the Institute’s knowledgeable flow cytometry team have a combined cytometry experience of over 30 years and extensive knowledge in a variety of flow cytometry applications. The facility provides both self-use analysers (used independently by researchers after training) and cell sorters that are run as a service by the facility’s specialists. The team provide expert advice on experimental design, undertake training, and support the post-acquisition analysis of data. While making an essential contribution to the Institute’s research, commercial companies on the Babraham Research Campus also benefit from access to this cutting-edge facility.

About the Babraham Institute

The Babraham Institute undertakes world-class life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. Our research focuses on cellular signalling, gene regulation and the impact of epigenetic regulation at different stages of life. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The Institute is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, through Institute Strategic Programme Grants and an Institute Core Capability Grant and also receives funding from other UK research councils, charitable foundations, the EU and medical charities.