Specialized Equipment

Biacore Analyzer
The Biacore 3000 system uses surface plasmon resonance technology to provide real-time, label-free analysis of molecular interactions.  Binding specificity, affinities, concentrations and/or reaction kinetics can be determined.

Contact: Ms. Caroline Underhill. Tel: 604-875-2474.  

Bioreader 3000 Eli-Spot Reader
Elispot assays are a relatively simple means of assessing the cytokine-secreting function of antigen-specific lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are incubated in 96 well plates along with antigen, and cytokines released by activated cells are "captured" by cytokine-specific antibodies, appearing as coloured spots on the well surface. The Bioreader 3000 is a high throughput, high resolution Elispot reader capable of reproducibly counting up to 2,000 spots per well.

Contact: Dr. Bin Wang. Tel. 604-875-2450.

Cellomics
The ArrayScan VTI is a 96-well high content screening (HCS) instrument capable of simultaneously imaging up to six cellular functions in a single cell using fluorescence imaging.  Examples of how this instrument has been used at CFRI include assessments of cell growth, apoptosis, invasion, nuclear translocation, differentiation, library screening (small interfering RNAs and chemicals), neuronal imaging and identification of rare subcellular populations i.e. cancer stem cells are readily detectable and quantified.

Contact: Dr. Kaiji Hu. Tel. 604-827-2000 ext. 6516.

Kodak X-Omat 2000A Film Processor
The Kodak X-Omat 2000A film processor is a tabletop processor designed for both low and medium volume processing applications. The processor combines proven reliability and image quality with a selection of two processing cycles. The rapid cycle (90 seconds) processes 125 34 x 43 cm films an hour and is recommended for Kodak T-Mat films and similar general-purpose radiography films. The standard cycle (120 seconds) processes 100 34 x 43 films an hour.

Contact: Mr. Nick Steel. Tel. 604-875-2000 ext. 7975.  

Microscopy
Several microscope facilities are available on site.

Metabolic Assessment and Indirect Calorimetry
The laboratory for obesity genetics and indirect calorimetry is a new facility that allows detailed, high-throughput energy balance measurements in mouse models of human disease. The laboratory allows for measurement of food and liquid intake, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and locomotor activity (infrared beam-breaking). All measurements are performed continuously in the home cage environment, using the LabMaster system (TSE-Systems, Germany). Body composition is measured noninvasively using Quantitative Magnetic Resonance (QMR - Echo Medical Systems, Texas). These experiments are ideal for detailed, muticomponent phenotyping of mice for obesity susceptibility, fasting/refeeding and the metabolic response to dietary changes.  

Contacts:
Dr. William Gibson.
Ms. Sandra Babich. Tel. 604-875-2000 ext. 6783.

Protein Purification (Fast Performance Liquid Chromatography)
The AKTA Explorer system performs rapid separation of proteins or other biomolecules through ion exchange, molecular size exclusion or affinity chromatography columns. Two systems are available; one at room temperature and the other at 4 degrees celsius.

Contacts:
Ms. Caroline Underhill. Tel. 604-875-2474. (room temperature equipment)
Ms. Sarah Neumann. Tel. 604-875-3831. (4 degrees celsius equipment)

Radioisotope Facility
Contact: Mr. Roger Dyer. Tel. 604-875-2418.

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Last updated: 10/13/2009