The FCCM Facility was developed to assist investigators with the use of several different sophisticated instruments designed to detect and measure fluorescent light emission. A BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer is available for analysis of cells and particles from each other based on size, internal complexity, and/or up to four different fluorescent signals. Cells labeled either internally or externally with fluorescent antibodies, calcium or pH specific probes, fluorescent proteins, or with DNA specific probes and dyes. Cells or particles can also be aseptically sorted to obtain pure populations for either further analysis or subsequent culture. A Leica SP2 laser scanning confocal microscope and an automated Zeiss Axiovert 200M driven by OpenLab software are available for imaging of live or fixed cells or other fluorescent materials. A spinning disk confocal and TIRF microscopy system will be added to the facility in 2008.

The mission of the UConn Stem Cell Core (UCSCC) is to support human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research, with special attention to Connecticut and the neighboring region.

These are our primary services:

1. Culture and bank HESCs
2. Provide HESC culture training and technical support
3. Provide HESCs to UCSCC users
4. Track and quality control HESCs
5. Validate reagents for HESC culture
6. Derive new HESCs and make them available to UCSCC users