The instruments of the screening unit are listed below. Almost all are available for use off-line or as part of reconfigurable automation platforms. After training, most can be booked via Open Iris. Contact us for further details. Library resources are also hosted by the screening unit.

High-Throughput Microscopes/High-Content Analysers

The unit now hosts four fully-automated imaging instruments that are used for live and fixed cell/small model organism High-Content Analysis and High-Throughput Microscopy. All four devices have wide-field and spinning disk imaging options. They can be used to increase the throughput and longitudinality of your experiements, as well as for performing screens.

Three of the devices are customised versions of the BD 855 Pathway High-Content Analysers, with ultra-high power electronically shuttered LED sources. One of these is also integrated to an automation platform with live-cell incubator and other devices, the remaining two are stand-alone.

The fourth device is a Perkin Elmer Operetta Confocal HCS Instrument equipped with Xenon arc source. Full details of all devices are available here.

Integrated assay platform (PAA workcell)

This is an integrated assay platform incorporating several of the devices described below. Plates are based from the library hotel (40 plate capacity) to an acoustic dispenser for 1-to-1 or cherry picking dispense to assay plates from the 40-plate assay library hotel. The assay plates are filled with assay reagent and substrate from bulk dispensers. After a defined incubation time, the plates can be read in the integrated plate reader or the entire assay plate stack can be transferred for measurement at another device. Library plates are automatically unsealed and resealed under inert purge gas as needed.

Acoustic Non-Contact Dispenser (EDC Biosystems)

This device is used to dispense reagents for assays, for full library screens, library cherry-picking and combination synergy approaches. Available for stand-alone use or in an 80-plate integrated assay platform.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Pipetting Robot (Biomek NXP)

This device is flexibly configured. The pod has a head for 8 and 96 channel use, and an alternate head for 384 channel use. In addition to passive positions, there are tip washers (96 or 384), a shaker cooler-heater position, a solid-phase separation position and a collar position. Custom covers free up unneeded devices as extra positions. A magnetic separation plate is available, and more can be generated as needed.

The Biomek NXP can now be booked by registered users, and training requested, via Open Iris.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Bulk Reagent Dispensers (Thermo Fisher Multidrop)

These two devices are used in automated pipelines to add reagents for specific assay steps. Available for stand-alone use or in an 80-plate integrated assay platform.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Peeler (Brooks)

This device removes plate seals from each library plate as scheduled by the 80-plate integrated assay platform, so that exposure of libraries to the atmosphere is minimised.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Sealer-Purger (Agilent)

This device purges the library plates in an inert atmosphere and returns the plate seal immediately after use in the 80-plate integrated assay platform. Can also be used off-line for multiple different plate types.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Centrifuge v-spin (Agilent)

This device ensures reagents dispensed to assay plates are properly seated in the wells before incubation and reading. Used by the 80-plate integrated assay platform

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Reader (BMG Clariostar Plus)

Currently, spectral fluorescence and luminescence measurement modes are available, using filter-based monochromators. Available for stand-alone use. Integrated to the 80-plate integrated assay platform..

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Reader (BMG Optima Polarstar)

Fluorescence, luminescence, absorbance, TRF and FP measurement modes are available, top and bottom modes in most cases. Filter-based system with two PMT detectors. Available for stand-alone use.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Washer (Thermo)

The Well Wash Versa instrument is a strip washer that can be used in automated pipelines to change medium on cells and plates for specific assay steps. Suitable for 96 well plates and 384 well plates. Currently being adapted for 1536 well plates.

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Tecan 384 Well Plate Washer

Location: Biocity 5th floor

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Plate Reader (Perkin Elmer Envision)

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Scanning Confocal Microscope (Biorad Radiance)

Functioning laser scanning confocal with GAsP and other detectors and bleaching functions

Location: Biocity

Contact person: Michael Courtney

Multi-Point Wide-Field Fast Imaging Microscope (Custom)

This instrument is used for facility QC and for integration to automated pipelines.

Location: Biocity
Contact person: Michael Courtney