Our instrument laboratory provides training and consultation services for researchers whose work involves flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and gel-documentation.

We host analytical fluorescence-activated flow cytometers and a state-of-the-art high-speed cell sorter:

• BD Fortessa SORP, four-laser, 14-color analyzer
• BD FACS Calibur two-laser, four-color system
• BD FACSAria three-laser, high-speed cell sorter capable of analyzing and selecting cells based on up to nine fluorescent colors
• BD FACSArray Bioanalyzer that can perform multiplex analyses using the cytometric bead array technique
• Zeiss K-Elispot automated imaging analysis system

We also have a network version of FCSExpress — an analytical software program — available for our visitors.

Our facility contains a Zeiss LSM-510 Meta NLO laser scanning confocal microscope attached to a Zeiss-inverted microscope. It is capable of simultaneous imaging of multiple-emission wavelengths, transmitted-light imaging and multiphoton capability through a Coherent Chameleon Ultra II laser.

A total of seven laser excitation lines (one tunable via the Chameleon laser), two single-wavelength emission channels and the multispectral “meta” detector allow a large number of dye combinations to be imaged in an individual specimen.

A microscope incubator and temperature controller is available for live-cell imaging.

Zeiss Axio Observer and Axio Imager wide-field fluorescent microscopes are available for bright field, DIC and phase contrast imaging, complete with cooled-CCD and color cameras.

These are also equipped with Zeiss’s Apotome structured-illumination system and deconvolution software for forming high-resolution optical slices of objects not well suited for confocal imaging. Image analysis and volume rendering software take the acquired datasets and perform 3-D reconstruction of cellular structures.

The Leica AS/LMD laser capture/laser microdissection system is available for isolation of single cells or small pieces of tissue from histological or live specimens.

Visit our facility for:

• Bio-Rad Doc Gel EZ imaging of ethidium bromide or SYBR green stained DNA gels and Coomassie Blue/Silver stained gels
• Bio-Rad GS-700 flatbed scanning densitometer for film and gel scanning and flatbed scanning densitometry
• Bio-Rad ChemiDoc MP electronic chemiluminescent and fluorescent imaging of Western blots
• Bio-Rad multiplex real time PCR thermocyclers CFX-96 Touch and CFX-96 Connect
• Nanodrop ND-1000 spectrophotometer
• Bio-Tek Synergy absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence plate reader

Researchers use our software to analyze data they acquire from the various instruments within our facility. Our software can help you extract quantitative information contained within images and flow cytometry data. It can also help display the results in a compelling and informative format. We offer training on how to use this software.

ImageJ/Fiji (3-D viewer) and vaa3d are 3-D volume rendering software packages that take image stacks you acquire from the confocal microscope and render them into 3-D volumes. 

As a visitor to our facility, you can also use Zeiss Image Deconvolution, an image restoration method which removes out-of-focus haze from 2-D confocal and wide-field image stacks. You can then use these to produce deblurred 3-D projections and volumes.

Zeiss image acquisition and analysis tools (ZEN 2 and AxioVision) permit you to analyze and display images acquired on Zeiss confocal and wide-field microscope systems. Additionally, we offer general-purpose image processing tools in ImageJ/Fiji for image analysis as well as wide-field and confocal image processing.

Our software collection also includes Bio-Rad’s ImageLab and Quantity One, which enable control acquisition of the Gel-Docs and imaging densitometry. You can use these to analyze gel profiles and band densities.

You can analyze quantitative PCR results with Bio-Rad’s CFX Manager software.

Flow Cytometer data can be analyzed by FCSExpress (De Novo Software) and then formatted for publication-ready figures. Contact the director for information on how to access this software.

955 Main Street
Rooms 3130 and 3135
Buffalo, NY 14203

Make online reservations through our Calcium scheduling system. Contact the director for login information.