UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research Institiúid Mhic Con Mí an Taighde Bhithmhóilínigh agus Bhithleighis

CNWY40130 Flow Cytometry - Principles & Practice

**Please note this module coincides with the UCD Conway Flow Cytometry Summer School and a fee applies for participation.

About the course

Designed for students who wish to understand and become critically aware of principles, practice and applications of rapidly developing imaging technologies. 

Credits ECTS 2.5

Dates: Summer School: July 15-19, 2024. 

Schedule Monday - Friday (9am - 5pm)

Module co-ordinator Prof Alfonso Blanco

Venue  UCD Conway Institute: Lecture theatre (mornings) and teaching laboratory (G003, afternoons) 

Registration for ECTS  Open via UCD Graduate Studies

Registration: Open until 01 July. 

Places available: 30

Course structure

The module will be delivered through seminars (3 hrs - morning) and practical sessions (3 hrs - afternoon)

Credit requirements

  • In advance of seminars, you will be required to review the current literature on the development and application of FC technology to particular areas of research.
  • You will be assessed in :
    • Competency in usage of technology by multiple choice questions
    • Sample preparation and analysis by online analysis
    • Course end evaluation session by problem-based assessment

What does it cover?

  • Introduction to flow cytometry: principles & data analysis
  • Flow cytometry (FC) instrumentation: Controls, Multicolour and Cell Sorting
  • FC applications I: Apoptosis, cell proliferation, kinetics and Extracellular Vesicles
  • FC applications II: Immunology and physiology of the cells
  • New Technologies. Data reanalysis and Data Publication

Why enrol?

On completion, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles of flow cytometry (FC)
  • Be able to obtain and critically assess FC data using specific analysis software applications and pre-acquired samples
  • Be familiar with instruments and their components, demonstrate understanding and critical awareness of the process of analysis protocol creation (Block 2).
  • Integrate knowledge of good laboratory practice in instrument usage, sample preparation, quality control, troubleshooting
  • Be able to integrate knowledge of apoptosis, cell cycle and physiology into protocol design for FC analysis and to carry out sample analysis using standard (and/or own) samples and protocols
  • Apply knowledge and understanding of FC to the analysis of immunological & phagocytic cells, carry out sample characterisation using standard (and/or own) samples and protocols
  • Be critically aware of uses of FC outside the academic research setting

Next steps