1. What is the name of the OCASCR equipment? The Helios Mass Cytometer and the Hyperion Imaging Mass Cytometer by Standard Biotools.
2. What does the equipment do, and how does that make it valuable for research? This equipment allows us to identify different types of immune cells using specially labeled antibodies that can detect up to 40 different markers. The Helios component analyzes cells in suspension by mass spectrometry and the Hyperion component analyzes cells in tissue by microscopy. This allows us to detect changes in immune cell populations in different disease states or in response to different treatments.
3. Over the last year, how many people have used the equipment and from what organizations? With this equipment we have collaborated with dozens of groups within OMRF, OU-Health Sciences Center, and OU-Norman. Our collaborations have also extended beyond our state borders with groups at University of Nebraska, Louisiana State University – Health Sciences Center, Washington University at St. Louis, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, and large national networks of collaborators at institutions throughout the United States.
4. What are some important findings that were made possible with the equipment? These collaborations have led to publications in many different fields including HIV research (Bennett, 2023 PMID: 37042743), brain cancer (Wang, 2022 PMID: 35534852), and nano particle research (Donahue, 2022 PMID: 34962815).
5. What other information would you like to share? Please consult with the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology - Human Phenotyping Core staff concerning the suitability of this equipment for specific uses prior to planning for potential collaborations. ACI-Phenotyping@omrf.org
