Flow Cytometry and Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (FCIMSR)

FLOW CYTOMETRY & IMMUNE MONITORING: ABSTRACT
The Flow Cytometry & Immune Monitoring Shared Resource (FCIMSR) has served investigators of the
University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) for more than 30 years. With the establishment of new cutting-
edge comprehensive immune monitoring services for basic and translational research, FCIMSR has been
renamed from the previous Flow Cytometry Shared Resource to highlight the full breadth of services now
available. The goal of FCIMSR is to offer UACC Members efficient and reliable flow cytometric and
comprehensive immune monitoring services with a high standard of quality control and in a cost-effective
manner. Led by Sara Centuori, PhD, and supported by three full-time staff, FCIMSR provides the knowledge
and expertise necessary to design experiments, develop new assays, perform flow cytometric functions, and
interpret data. FCIMSR is supported by chargebacks and UACC funding with the intent to prioritize cancer-
related services to UACC Members. In CY20, FCIMSR was utilized by 83 unique users, 55% of which were
UACC Members (86% with peer-reviewed extramural funding). The volume of FCIMSR usage has steadily
increased since 2016, supporting 60 publications by UACC Members and 256 funded grant proposals. In
response to UACC Member needs, FCIMSR expanded its breadth of services to include human immune
monitoring in 2020. FCIMSR now houses a Cytek Aurora flow cytometer, an instrument capable of detecting
40 markers in one sample allowing for state-of-the-art multiparametric flow cytometry profiling and immune
profiling capabilities. The Specific Aims of FCIMSR are focused on three pillars: Service, Education, and
Collaboration. The short-term goals of FCIMSR are to increase knowledge of advanced flow cytometric and
immune monitoring assays, provide and expand services offered in these areas, and encourage collaborations
between FCIMSR and other UACC Shared Resources to meet UACC Member needs more efficiently and
economically. The long-term goal and vision for this facility is to evolve as a well-established, comprehensive
flow cytometric and immune monitoring facility, offering the latest and most innovative technologies to UACC
Members in areas of both fundamental and translational cancer research.

Grant Number: 5P30CA023074-44
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Sara Centuori