In partnership with Cancer Research UK - City of London Centre

Flow Cytometry Facility

The Barts Cancer Institute Flow Cytometry Facility at Queen Mary University of London is equipped with flow cytometry (Conventional and Spectral), and imaging cytometry instrumentation enabling high-throughput, multi-parametric single cell analysis across a number of disciplines.

Welcome to the Barts Cancer Institute (BCI) Flow Cytometry Facility at Charterhouse Square, part of Queen Mary University of London.

Our facility brings together advanced conventional, spectral, and imaging technologies to deliver fast, precise single‑cell analysis at scale. Whether you are driving cutting‑edge research or accelerating new discoveries, we provide the tools, support, and expertise to help your science go further.

Our mission is to deliver state‑of‑the‑art, professional cytometry services on a fee‑for‑service basis. We are here to support both internal users across Queen Mary University of London (including Barts Cancer Institute, the William Harvey Research Institute, the Blizard Institute, and the Wolfson Institute) as well as external academic and industry partners.

Our team is available for all research projects, collaborations, and commercial consultations, supporting your research at every step, from experimental and panel design, troubleshooting and data analysis. To empower every researcher, we offer a comprehensive range of training courses alongside high‑dimensional data analysis platforms and services. Whether you are new to flow cytometry or looking to expand your expertise, we are here to support and help you get the most from your experiments.

Contact details

For general enquiries:

Manager: Dr Manuela Terranova Barberio, PhD  m.terranovabarberio@qmul.ac.uk

Please contact the Facility Manager for financial requests, quotations, grant applications, new project discussion or any enquiries for external access.

Location

We are located in Room 2.08 and 211 on the 2nd floor of John Vane Science Centre.

Address

Flow Cytometry Facility
2nd Floor, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square
Queen Mary University of London
London
EC1M 6BQ

Opening Hours

  • Core Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
  • Cell Sorting Service: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm
  • Cytometers/Analysers access: open 24/7 for trained internal users
  • External user access: Monday-Friday 09:00am-5:00pm for trained users

Flow Cytometry Facility Team

Dr Manuela Terranova Barberio

Dr Manuela Terranova Barberio

Flow Cytometry Facility Manager

Atar Diwani Massarwa

Atar Diwani Massarwa

Flow Cytometry Specialist

Dr Isabel Correa-Otero

Senior Flow Cytometry Specialist

Stephen Rogers

Stephen Rogers

Flow Cytometry Senior Research Technician

Getting Started

  • All users must register with the facility, attend training and have an induction before accessing the facility/instruments. Please review the training tab for more details on what is offered. You can contact the core at flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk for further details on how to get trained and information on our next upcoming training dates.
  • Please ensure to acknowledge the BCI Flow Core Facility in any publications, poster, conference or presentations that include work carried out with the help of our staff, or using services or equipment in the facility. This is vital in order to demonstrate the funding we receive is being utilized as intended and to ensure continued funding for the facility. By accessing the facility, you agree and confirm with this policy. For more details please see the Acknowledgement section.
  • Instruments can be booked using the iLab Booking system

You will need an iLab account for scheduling instrument time, sorting, training requests, and analysis platform access requests. Link for iLab sign-up and information here: iLab sign-up.

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Acknowledgements

The BCI Flow Cytometry Core Facility is funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

  • Please use the following phrase to acknowledge the use of the BCI Flow Cytometry Facility on any publications and presentations: “Flow Cytometry experiments were performed in the BCI Flow Cytometry Facility. The BCI Flow Cytometry Facility is supported by the CRUK Flow Cytometry Core Services Grant at Barts Cancer Institute (Core Award C16420/A18066)” and/or (for the ImageStream) “The Wellcome Trust Grant:101604/Z/13/Z”.
  • You may also wish to acknowledge an individual member of staff (delete as appropriate): “In particular, we thank [name] for their advice and support in designing/troubleshooting/running flow cytometry experiment/cell sorting/Instrument”.
  • In addition to the acknowledgement statement, it is important to offer authorship in a publication if a member of the team has helped with the design, troubleshooting and data analysis of a project or experiment. This is particularly important for Technician Staff career progression and shows their help is properly valued. Our staff is more than happy to help, review and advise on manuscripts.
  • Please send us a reprint or pdf of your accepted paper so we can keep track of these acknowledgements and post your accomplishment in the lab.

Thank you for your support and recognition!

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Services and Support

At the BCI Flow Cytometry Core Facility we offer state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise to take your research to the next level. Offering various services, including cell sorting, multi-colour analysis, instrument training, data analysis training, support and troubleshooting, experiment and panel design assistance, we are here to help.

In particular, cell sorting is a dedicated service provided by the facility staff. This service can be booked and arranged by emailing the general team email at flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk

Cell sorting

Our facility is a BSL 2 facility and offers cell sorting service on two sorters with up to 16 fluorescent parameters allowing for high-speed multicolour sorting with digital acquisition camera. Both instruments allow sorting with nozzles ranging from 70 to 130 μm and operates the latest version of BD FACSDiva software for acquisition.

Both instruments are run by trained staff members and allow for sterile cell collection with two- and four-way bulk sorting in tubes or single cell sorting into a variety of plates, with sample and collection tube cooling/heating and Index sorting available.

Please see configuration on our iLab page here under Description next to the instrument.

  • BD SORP FACS ARIA II 4L (V-B-Y/G-R) – cell sorter x 1
  • BD SORP FACSAria Fusion 4L (V-B-Y/G-R) – cell sorter x 1

Experimental planning & Troubleshooting

Expert advice is available on experimental design, troubleshooting and data post-acquisition. If you are new to flow cytometry and need support in planning a new flow or sorting experiment, optimizing the staining and your samples’ preparation or to run longitudinal clinical and non-clinical studies, our team is here to help you to achieve high quality results.

We also develop and introduce new techniques and technologies that would be useful to our users. In the last few years, we have introduced spectral flow cytometry to the lab, enhancing the number of parameters that can be measured and the range of applications that we can provide. The detection of multiple autofluorescent signatures in complex tissues has also highly improved the resolution of difficult samples.

If you are interested in acquiring new technologies that could benefit your research project and be added to the facility portfolio, we are happy to collaborate in grant application. Please email m.terranovabarberio@qmul.ac.uk to start the conversation.

Panel design & Data analysis

Support and assistance are also available for high dimensional parameters panel design, sourcing and supply of reagents, data analysis, presentation and interpretation of data.

The Facility also offers access to a data analysis workstation with multiple different data analysis platforms that can facilitate your high dimensional data analysis and data presentation. Please email flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk for further information.

  • FlowJo
  • OMIQ
  • IDEAS (Imagestream data analysis platform)
  • SpectroFlo® (Aurora data analysis platform)

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Equipment

Our facility is equipped with a wide range of conventional, spectral and imaging flow cytometry instrumentation enabling high-throughput, multi-parametric single-cell analysis across a number of disciplines.

Sorters

Cell sorting is a dedicated service provided by the Charterhouse Flow Cytometry Facility. The service can be requested via the Flow Cytometry lab/team (flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk) and is provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. The instruments allow the aseptic separation of different cell types and are equipped to sort up to four different cell populations (targets) simultaneously. They enable high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis and sorting to isolate and recover your cells of interest for various post sorting application (eg. Cell culture, sequencing, transplantation etc). The cells of interest can be sorted (collection) into 1.5ml Eppendorf, standard FACS 5mL tubes, 15mL Falcon tubes or U/V/flat bottom plates (6, 12,24,48,96 and 384).

BD FACS ARIA II

Equipped with 4 lasers (V-B-Y/G-R: 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue, 561nm Yellow/Green and 640nm Red), this sorter is capable of measuring up to 14 fluorescent parameters simultaneously.

BD FACSAria Fusion

Equipped with 4 lasers (V-B-Y/G-R: 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue, 561nm Yellow/Green and 640nm Red), this sorter is capable of measuring up to 18 fluorescent parameters simultaneously.

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Analysers

Please note that prior to using any of our equipment, it is compulsory to complete a registration and attend training.

BD Fortessa 4L (x2)

  • Conventional flow cytometer equipped with 4 lasers (V-B-Y/G-R): 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue, 561nm Yellow/Green and 640nm Red.
  • These analysers are capable of detecting up to 16 different fluorescent channels simultaneously.
  • Ideal for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.

BD Fortessa 3L

  • Conventional flow cytometer equipped with 3 lasers (V-B-R): 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue and 640nm Red.
  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 14 different fluorescent channels simultaneously.
  • Ideal for smaller panel with multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Screening of GFP positive cells, Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.

Thermo Fisher Attune NxT 3L

  • Conventional flow cytometer equipped with 3 lasers (V-B-R): 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue and 640nm Red.
  • Equipped with Automated Plate Acquisition (flat/V/U 96 and 384 well plate).
  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 11 different fluorescent channels simultaneously.
  • Very high-throughput system due to the acoustic focusing (5-10X faster than other analysers), it is equipped with a syringe-based system that allows the recovery of unused sample back to the tube.
  • Whole Blood Analysis Capability (using the violet side-scatter, VL1)
  • Besides the standard FACS tube, Attune can also accommodate 1.5ml and 2ml Eppendorf.
  • Ideal for more complex tissue/samples stained with smaller panel for multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc

BD FACSymphony A3 5L

  • High-end conventional flow cytometer equipped with 5 lasers (UV-V-B-Y/G-R): 355nm Ultraviolet, 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue, 561nm Yellow/Green and 640nm Red.
  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 28 different fluorescent channels simultaneously.
  • This instrument is ideal for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Large panel phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.

Cytek ImageStream MKII 3L

  • Imaging flow cytometer equipped with 2 CCD cameras and 3 lasers:405nm Violet, 488nm Blue and 633nm Red.
  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 10 different fluorescent channels simultaneously (or 9 when using side-scatter) + 2 brightfield. The cytometer allows direct imaging of the cellular components of the sample with 20x, 40x and 60x magnification.
  • Imaging Cytometry combines high throughput flow cytometry with imaging and fluorescence microscopy. Ideal for particularly functional studies eg. translocation, internalization, co-localization, cell shape changes, spot counting, cell cycle, immunological synapse and much more.
  • Suitable for Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and other nano-sized particles’ analysis.

Cytek Aurora 4L

  • High-end spectral Flow cytometer equipped with 4 lasers (UV-V-B-R): 355nm Ultraviolet, 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue and 640nm Red.
  • This analyser is capable of detecting more than 30 fluorescent channels simultaneously. With careful panel design and optimization, potentially can be pushed up to 35 fluorescent channels.
  • This 4-laser system will measure the FULL fluorescence signal (not just maximum emission) of each given fluorochrome where each fluorochrome will have a unique signature. Given that the instrument measures unique signatures (spectral signal) this instrument is capable of separating close/similar fluorochromes  (eg. GFP vs AF488, APC vs. AF647) which currently is not possible with any of the other instruments available. Suitable for.
  • Capable of detecting multi-autofluorescence signatures in complex samples, reduce the impact of autofluorescence, thus giving a powerful tool for high parameter experiment/analysis.
  • In addition to normal FACS tubes, this instrument can accommodate flat/V/U 96 well plate for high throughput and autonomous work.
  • Suitable for complex tissue digest and highly auto fluorescent samples (eg. Lung, liver, hearth tissue etc.) for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping and immumo-phenotyping.

Training

We offer several different training courses no matter where your experience level is with flow. All new users must attend basic training before accessing the self-use analysers.

Please email flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk for any enquiry.

Basic Training: This is a mandatory training for all users before they can start.

During this one-day training course, you will learn the basics of flow cytometry theory and have an H&S induction to our facility labs. This will be followed by two hands-on practical sessions to get access to all conventional flow cytometers in the facility and cover the two main software running on our analysers. This will give you more flexibility when reserving our instruments.

No prerequisites are needed and top-up training can be organised to access different platforms.

This training runs on a monthly basis, please email the core email to find out when the next training is scheduled.

Aurora Training: during this one-day training course, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of spectral flow cytometry theory and will learn the difference between conventional and spectral flow cytometry. You will learn how to interpret and analyse spectral signatures, how to QC and troubleshoot your signatures and reference controls to obtain optimal unmixing. You will also learn how to design and troubleshoot your experiment and the workflow to use the Aurora software (SpectroFlow) and the Aurora instrument.

Prerequisites: basic training and some knowledge of conventional flow cytometry theory. Please email the core email to find out when the next training is scheduled.

ImageStream Training: during this one-day training course, you will be introduced to the ImageStream technology and fundamentals of imaging flow cytometry. You will learn all the necessary tips for panel design, sample preparation and experiment troubleshooting, focusing on the difference with conventional flow cytometry. With a hands-on practical session and data analysis workflow, you will learn how to take advantage of this platform to combine flow cytometry with imaging features and enhance your research project. Prerequisites: basic training and some knowledge of conventional flow cytometry theory. Please email the core email to find out when the next training is scheduled.

FlowJo Training: during this one-day training course, you will learn how to analyse your data using the FlowJo analysis platform (also available in the core). This training is organized with hands-on practical sessions designed for both beginners (with no experience) and more advanced users (with previous experience, but who would like to deepen their knowledge and require advanced analysis requirements). You will learn how to import your data and perform standard data analysis workflow or implement optimized workflow for large data sets analysis. You will also learn to perform post-acquisition compensation, generate statistical reports and ready-for-publication figures, or perform data analysis for specific applications like cell cycle and proliferation assays. By attending this course, you will also be introduced to the basic concepts and tools to perform high-dimensional data analysis on FlowJo.

No prerequisites are needed.