About the NIPH mass cytometry platform (CyTOF®)

Although we focus on applications that work towards solving public health challenges within infectious disease control/vaccines, environmental medicine and cohort studies, we would also like to welcome collaborators in other fields of research and development.

About the platform

The mass cytometry platform provides:

• Helios™ mass cytometer from Standard Biotools Inc 
• scientific and technical support in all steps of the workflow, from sample collection to statistical analysis and reporting (Figure 1)

Use of the Helios mass cytometer

After hands-on training, you can run samples on the instrument for an hourly fee. In collaboration projects, the NIPH platform staff will stain and run samples on the instrument.

For full-service customer projects,please contact us to discuss possibilities.

Scientific and technical support

The platform provides expertise in CyTOF applications, experimental design and methodological considerations, and data collection on the Helios mass cytometer. We also offer expertise on biostatistical analyses of the high-dimensional cellular data sets. Our dedicated technicians and biostatisticians may contribute “hands on” in projects if wanted (Figure 1).

Customers can include academic groups, research institutes, companies or regulatory agencies.

Please contact us on CyTOF@fhi.no 

Cell sample collection strategies – cohort and human studies

We are developing protocols for time-efficient and easy cell sampling in cohorts and other human studies. This will simplify collection of cells in settings like hospitals, home visits, workplaces and rural settings.

Ask us for recommendations for your particular study.

Antibody and metal tag inventory

For users interested in testing out the technology in a small sample format (typically 5-10 samples), the platform provides an inventory of metal-labelled antibodies for sale. Pre-tagged antibodies can be bought from Standard Biotools (standardbio.com), or we can conjugate your favourite antibodies using metal-labelling kits (single reactions can be bought from the platform). 

Our inventory of anti-Human antibodies includes antibodies towards:

• Major cell populations in whole blood/PBMCs
• Cytokines
• Chemokine receptors
• Activation markers
• Transcription factors
• Proliferation marker
• Viability marker
• Immune checkpoints
• Stem cell markers
• Neuronal and astrocyte proliferation and differentiation
• Neuronal development and maturation
• Growth factors
• Neurotransmitter receptors

Our inventory of anti-Mouse antibodies includes antibodies towards

• Major immune cell populations
• Cytokines
• Chemokine receptors
• Activation markers
• Transcription factors
• Proliferation marker
• Immune checkpoints
• Viability marker

Our inventory also provides metal-labelling kits for in-house conjugation to your «favourite antibodies».

About the team and contact information

• Contact us at CyTOF@fhi.no
• Platform leader: Unni C. Nygaard, Section Director
• Scientific and technical advisor: Ratnadeep Mukherjee
• Instrument operations: Hege Hjertholm, Tove Karin Herstad, Linn Margrethe Eggesbø, Thea Kristine Rogne Møller
• Biostatistician: Anja Bråthen Kristoffersen, Sabin Bhandari
• Senior scientists, students and post docs in ongoing projects
• Location: Lovisenberggata 8, 0456 Oslo

Focus areas at NIPH

The NIPH platform will have particular expertise in mass cytometry applications within in the research fields of toxicology, systems immunology in vaccinology, infectious and immune diseases as well as in stem cell models and other complex in vitro systems (Figure 2). 

Additionally, we focus on developing feasible methods for cell collection in cohorts and biobanks, as the technique  can give detailed understanding of biological complexity in small sample volumes (such as birth cohorts/children). Other application areas are welcome to contact us to discuss opportunities with this technology.