PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT Over the last 15 years, the Arizona State University (ASU) Flow Cytometry Core Facility (FCCF) has been serving the research needs of a diverse set of research groups. Currently, the ASU FCCF regularly serves the research needs of over 40 research laboratories across 6 academic units. Critically, this facility serves as the only shared core laboratory that provides flow cytometry sorting capabilities to the researches on the ASU Tempe campus. The current flow cytometer in the facility, the BD FACSAria I, was purchased in 2005 and has outgrown both the cell sorting capacity and technology needs required by new faculty as well as current researchers who have enhanced needs. To that end, this proposal is requesting funds to acquire a BD FACSymphony S6 cell sorter configured with a 5 laser, 30-color system. This enhanced system will provide users additional sensitivity and flexibility when compared to the current 3 laser, 9-color FACSAria I instrument present in the FCCF. In addition, the upgraded fluidics (which has been a limiting feature of the current FACSAria I system) of the BD FACSymphony S6 will allow for greater throughput and survival of rare and sensitive cell populations which are typical of the research groups that use the ASU FCCF. Moreover, the 6-way and single cell sorting capacities of the BD FACSymphony S6 are compatible with the downstream single-cell RNA-sequencing platforms that are becoming increasingly employed by ASU FCCF users. Finally, the seamless integration of the BD FACSymphony S6 with a Baker biological safety cabinet will allow for the sorting of virally transfected cell populations which is not easily achievable with the current FACSAria I system present in the FCCF. Overall, acquisition of this new instrument will provide a resource currently not available to ASU scientists as well enable and enhance the research of NIH-funded investigators.