1. Flow Cytometry: Flow Cytometry facilities for sophisticated analyses and sorting of cell samples, including:
BD FACS Aria This state-of-the-art cell sorter is ideal for use with human samples. It can separate pure populations of cells from a mixed population allowing the isolation and characterisation of distinct cell types eg. tumour cells can be isolated from normal cells in biopsy and blood samples.
BD LSR II The BD LSR II is a sensitive and precise analytical cytometer. It permits the simultaneous analysis of a number of different parameters including, but not limited to: cell cycle and apoptosis studies, immunophenotyping, cell proliferation analysis, signal transduction pathway studies, gene expression measurements and intracellular cytokines and biochemical analysis.
Contact: Frank Battye

2. Systems biology/genome-wide screening: For the detection of mutant (variant) load across different cell populations with high throughput mutation screening facilities.
Eppendorf epMotion 5075 VAC automated pipetting system This fully automated pipetting system can be used for sample or reagent transfer, assay set-up or nucleic acid extraction, and is precise, safe and easy to use.
BMG labtech FLUOstar Optima This high-performance multi-detection microplate reader supports a wide variety of assays in all major application areas including biomolecular interaction monitoring, cell-based drug discovery assays, enzyme activity measurements, quantification assays and reporter gene detection.
BD Pathway™ 855 High Content Imaging system This system can rapidly record high-resolution live cell fluorescence images from multiwell plates and slides, and can be used for kinetic and endpoint biological assays.
Applied Biosystems Auto-Lid Dual 96-Well and 384-Well GeneAmp® PCR Systems
Contact: Kurt Lackovic

3. Molecular pathology: Equipment to enable molecular pathology platforms that underpin or extend the research programs.
Veritas automated laser microdissection system This system provides rapid and convenient access to pure cell populations. It can cut and capture structures from multiple tissue sections or cytological samples for downstream molecular analysis.
Visionbiosystems immunostainer with InstrumeC GCS600 glass cover slipper This machine is used as a diagnostic tool and uses antibody staining methods to detect prognostic markers from human patient samples (tissues, blood samples, needle aspirations).
Corbett DNA/RNA Extractor A precision robotic nucleic acid extraction system designed for fast, hands-free separation of DNA/RNA from various sample types.
Leica Embedding Centre This modular tissue embedding centre provides rapid, convenient and efficient paraffin embedding of fresh tissue.
Biolab Nano-drop Spectrophotometer allows highly accurate UV/Vis analysis of small samples with remarkable reproducibility.
Contact: Matthew Chapman

4. Microscopy: Advanced technology to further the marker discovery program as well as the imaging of cancer stem cells and critical stromal elements.
Olympus MPE multi photon microscope is a laser scanning microscope that allows outstanding fluorescence imaging down into deep regions of specimens. Utilising pulsed IR lasers and long working distance objectives this microscope is able to image hundreds of microns into living cells and tissues with reduced phototoxicity. Ideal for cell biology, this technology is useful for repeated, long-range or time-lapse exposures.
Zeiss LSM 5 LIVE laser scanning microscope is a live cell, ultra-fast image acquisition system ideal for observing dynamic events. The unique combination of scanning speed, image quality and sensitivity provides visualisation of movements of individual intracellular molecules, metabolic events and developmental growth and dynamics of the cytoskeleton during processes such as cell adhesion, cell motility and cell signaling.
Contact: Kelly Rogers

5. RNA Interference Library:

Mouse shRNAmir pGIPZ Lentiviral library A Library constructed with sequence verified short hairpin RNAs that target most known and predicted genes in the mouse genome for suppressing gene expression. This system has multiple shRNAmir constructs per gene, efficient low copy knockdown and interference can be performed in primary and non-dividing cells.
Contact: Jane Visvader and Ross Dickins

6. "Humanised" Mouse Model systems and animal imaging: In vivo studies of normal and cancer stem cells in human tissue require the use of severely immunocompromised mice such as the NOD-SCID strain. These mice serve as recipients for explants of human tissue.
Micro-isolators
Xenogen IVIS Imaging System For the detection of small numbers of marked cells at multiple time-points in animals. Optical imaging technology facilitates the non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of disease progression, cell trafficking and gene expression patters in living animals. This system is based on a luciferase-reporter assay, and has great sensitivity and versatility.
Contact: Lorraine Robb and Clare Scott