# Dietary Supplements and Inflammation Phase-2: ACQUISITION OF A MULTIPARAMETER FLOW CYTOMETER

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2021 · $250,000

## Abstract

Abstract:
This proposal requests funds of $250K with remaining funds from our institution to purchase a high-parameter,
state-of-the-art flow cytometer, BD FACSymphony A5 Cell Analyzer. This flow cytometer offers novel and
cutting-edge technology aimed at simultaneous detection of up to 30 parameters for the study of many
inflammatory diseases that include autoimmune, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases as well as
obesity, aging and cancer that are important areas of research in the COBRE on Dietary Supplements and
Inflammation (DSI) at the University of South Carolina (UofSC). The ability to distinguish the multiple cell types
based on biomarkers, receptors and functional characteristics as well as the ability to integrate the panels into
a single composite that enables the diagnosis and prognosis of disease following attempts towards prevention
and treatment with plant products will be most readily performed with this high-resolution and high-throughput
instrument. This instrument will be housed in the Flow Cytometry and Imaging Core of the COBRE at the
University of South Carolina, School of Medicine. This core will serve the needs of the Target Faculty and Pilot
Project faculty as well as their graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and technical staff.
The existing flow cytometers such as the FC500 are antiquated and offer a maximum of 5-color capability,
thereby limiting the cell subpopulations that can be identified and have no data integration capability. In
addition, these flow cytometers are not supported by the vendor as they are obsolete with parts not available.
Further, FACSymphony has 5 lasers, 30 parameters and 28 color detectors offering high-performance
detection capability with commercial, low cost, readily-available fluorochrome conjugated antibodies, high-
speed processors, optimized photomultiplier tubes for each detector as well as updated software for analysis
and visualization. Importantly, the instrument can be upgraded to 10 lasers, 50 parameters with 48 colors in
the future. This bench-top instrument allows for rapid analysis of low volume of sample, can detect upto 28
colors, overcomes issues associated with fluorescence compensation and is user-friendly. As detailed in the
proposal, the biomedical research environment in the COBRE on DSI at the UofSC is on a trajectory for
expansion with no multi-parameter flow cytometer. The absence of this capability has adversely affected the
research programs of the investigators participating in this COBRE as well as the recruitment of promising
scientists to the UofSC. Acquisition of the instrument and housing it in an established core facility will allow
access to it by a large number of investigators and will significantly enhance the research quality and training.
Dr. Narendra Singh, a Research Professor and the Flow Cytometry, Microscopy and Imaging Core Leader has
>20 years experience in running flow cytometry will oversee the operation of this...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10399319
- **Project number:** 3P20GM103641-09S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Mitzi Nagarkatti
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $250,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2012-09-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10399319

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10399319, Dietary Supplements and Inflammation Phase-2: ACQUISITION OF A MULTIPARAMETER FLOW CYTOMETER (3P20GM103641-09S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10399319. Licensed CC0.

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