# Imagestream-X MKII to enhance cell biology research

> **NIH NIH S10** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2020 · $596,093

## Abstract

Abstract: Imaging flow cytometry merges the capabilities of modern flow cytometry with fluorescence
microscopy. Flow cytometry provides single-cell resolution of complex mixtures of cells through size, expression
of surface proteins, and intracellular levels of other markers. With the advent of new fluorophores, detection
systems, and analysis algorithms, dozens of distinct parameters can be analyzed on cells simultaneously.
Moreover, thousands of cells can be analyzed per second, providing substantial statistical power to identify even
very rare populations. A limitation of traditional flow cytometry, however, lies in its inability to resolve subcellular
features or morphological changes between cells aside from overall size. Thus, processes such as autophagy
or NF-κB activation that operate through the cellular re-localization of proteins to autophagosomes or the
nucleus, respectively, are difficult to quantify by flow cytometry. Such features can be monitored by fluorescence
microscopy, but low throughput, especially for rare cell subsets, limits its utility. Moreover, most microscopy
configurations have a limited number of fluorescence parameters that can be assessed simultaneously. Imaging
flow cytometry addresses these limitations by merging the advantages of flow cytometry and microscopy, taking
high resolution pictures as cells pass through at low pressure but great speed. Up to 11 distinct parameters can
be assessed at once, allowing for a robust separation of even rare cells with distinct combinations of surface and
intracellular markers, morphology, and subcellular features. No such instrument exists at the University of
Arizona or within 100 miles of Tucson. Acquisition of such an instrument would transform the capabilities of the
community of local scientists studying basic cell biology, immunology, and cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9938291
- **Project number:** 1S10OD028466-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Deepta Bhattacharya
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $596,093
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-10 → 2021-07-09

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9938291

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9938291, Imagestream-X MKII to enhance cell biology research (1S10OD028466-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9938291. Licensed CC0.

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