Viral vector technology for cell type specific gene delivery

Project Summary This administrative supplement is to purchase a Sony benchtop SH800 cell sorter. Cell sorting is essential for our approach to rationally engineer Adeno-Associated Virus tropism (see R01GM141152 ”Viral vector technology

for cell type specific gene delivery”). At the University of Minnesota Flow Core facility, cell sorting is only available as a ‘fee-for-service’ performed by a flow core staff member. With this limitation, we have run into two issues: 1) Because of heavy utilization of the Flow Core’s two sorters, we have trouble securing enough time to conduct

research outlined in our R01. 2) For many pilot/optimization experiments, the high throughput of the Flow Core’s sorters is underutilized, and their complexity is actually a hindrance. A benchtop sorter will shorten the time required for consecutive AAV design/measure/optimize cycles and thus enable an accelerated timeline of

experiment outlined in our R01. Taken together, the need to purchase a cell sorter dedicated to this project is urgent.