The Mass and Flow Cytometry Facility provides expertise in fluorescently activated cell sorting (FACS), fluorescent cell analysis (cytometry) fluorescent imaging (imaging cytometry) and mass cytometry (CyTOF) performed on state of the art technology platforms. This includes automation to achieve more efficient and robust datasets which is essential with complex antibody panels.
We provide expertise and training for all our instruments including multi-parametric panel design for conventional, spectral and mass cytometry analysis platforms. We provide full training in advanced analysis software platforms to ensure a smooth workflow to results.
Advice and hands-on training in cell preparation techniques is given for all researchers in order to maximise these technologies.
Instruments
· Cell sorters: Bigfoot, Aria 3, Melody
· Analysers:Sony ID7000, Fortessa X20, Novocyte Quanteon, Novocyte 3005, Novocyte 3000.
· Imaging flow: Imagestream MKII
· Mass cytometer: Cytof XT
Analysis Platforms
· Flowjo™
· Cytobank™
· In-house bespoke R script workflows
· IDEAS™
· Novoexpress™
Featured Publications
Mutant p53 induces SH3BGRL expression to promote cell engulfment
1st July 2025
In this paper, researchers show how mutant p53 cells drive the process of cell engulfment.
Single-cell analysis defines a pancreatic fibroblast lineage that supports anti-tumor immunity.
13th September 2021
Hutton et al. use mass cytometry to chart stromal cells and describe mesenchymal states and lineages in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. CD105 (Eng) expression distinguishes two pancreatic fibroblast lineages with distinct functions. CD105pos fibroblasts are tumour permissive, whereas CD105neg fibroblasts suppress tumour growth in a manner dependent on adaptive immunity.
Heterocellular OSM-OSMR signalling reprograms fibroblasts to promote pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis
17th December 2021
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal malignancy with a complex microenvironment. Here, we describe how heterocellular Oncostatin M (OSM) – Oncostatin M Receptor (OSMR) signalling reprograms fibroblasts, regulates tumour growth and metastasis.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Remodel the Tumor Immune Environment to Enhance Immune Checkpoint Blockade Efficacy
11th October 2021
Through in-depth cellular and molecular profiling of mice and human tumours, the authors identify the mechanisms by which anti-inflammatory drugs targeting the COX-2/PGE2/EP2-4 axis rapidly alter the tumour immune landscape to enhance the response to immune checkpoint inhibition.
More about the Mass and Flow Cytometry Facility
More about the Mass and Flow Cytometry Facility
Facility Services
Cell Analysis
The facility offers a wide range of cytometry platforms including the latest spectral cytometers enabling us to develop novel analysis and functional panels.
Cell Sorting
The facility has a range of cell sorters capable of physically separating cells based on their phenotype, activation state or function.
Imaging Cytometry
The Imagestream uses flow cytometry technology to analyse well over 100,000 cells per sample with up to 6 fluorescently labelled markers with additional brightfield and side scatter images. With its designated software IDEAS™ this has the capability of analysing cell to cell interactions, translocation of markers within the cells, as well as physical characteristics, which gives our researchers another dimension of analysis.
Mass Cytometry
The CyTOF™ technology enables deep profiling of translational and clinical research samples. With specific cell barcoding systems we have the ability to label and run up to 20 samples resulting in analysis of over 60 million cells per run. This technology is designed to significantly reduce signal overlap between channels resulting in the ability to label up to 55 labels which empowers researchers to interrogate cellular phenotypes, function and signalling status.
Meet the Mass and Flow Cytometry Team
Emily has expertise in maintaining and training researchers on all our technology platforms, and particularly expert in running the Bigfoot spectral sorter and advising cell preparation and panel design for the more complex samples.
Adam has expertise in maintaining and training on all our technology platforms and is particularly expert in running the Melody sorter for single cell index sorting and high-throughput experiments on the Novocytes using multi-parametric panel design.
Core Facility Manager
Flow Cytometry Technician
Flow Cytometry Technician
Flow Cytometry Technician
Institute life in Manchester
We strive to make our community a welcoming, caring and enthusiastic one, fuelling ambition with opportunities for training and mentoring to help us all achieve our personal and professional goals.
“We are so pleased to have received the funding to enable us to test our hypothesis in the lab. If we can create a new medicine that can precisely target a specific type of cell within the tumour, and restore anti-cancer immune responses, this will be a game-changer for oesophageal cancer patients “
Sara Valpione
Former Institute Clinical Fellow and now Clinician in Residence within the CRUK National Biomarker Centre
“My charity bake sales – known as “David’s Great British Bake Off” – are always a hit, home baked products taste so much better than shop bought and are greatly appreciated by staff!”
David Jenkins
Purchasing Officer
“We’ve seen some remarkable responses, with an improvement for some patients within days. This is an early phase trial so there’s a lot more work to do. But the data we have so far is very encouraging and could help many thousands of people in the future”
Tim Somervaille
Senior Group Leader
“It is a pleasure to introduce my team who work to deliver our research goals. We work in a friendly and collaborative environment, supporting each other’s projects. “
Amaya Virós
CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow
“We are so pleased to have received the funding to enable us to test our hypothesis in the lab. If we can create a new medicine that can precisely target a specific type of cell within the tumour, and restore anti-cancer immune responses, this will be a game-changer for oesophageal cancer patients “
Sara Valpione
Former Institute Clinical Fellow and now Clinician in Residence within the CRUK National Biomarker Centre
“My charity bake sales – known as “David’s Great British Bake Off” – are always a hit, home baked products taste so much better than shop bought and are greatly appreciated by staff!”
David Jenkins
Purchasing Officer
“We’ve seen some remarkable responses, with an improvement for some patients within days. This is an early phase trial so there’s a lot more work to do. But the data we have so far is very encouraging and could help many thousands of people in the future”
Tim Somervaille
Senior Group Leader
“It is a pleasure to introduce my team who work to deliver our research goals. We work in a friendly and collaborative environment, supporting each other’s projects. “
Amaya Virós
CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow
A note from the Team Leader – Antonia Banyard
I have over 25 years’ experience in research using flow cytometry and am very pleased to be part of its renaissance as new technologies are coming into play all the time, all of which we are fortunate to have at our fingertips within the Facility.
Our Facility is at the heart of all the research groups and we are in the excellent position to be able to advise which platform will be the best for each individual project to maximise the samples we use.