Laser microdissection enables the isolation of single cells or homogeneous cell clusters from complex heterogeneous tissues. It enables researchers to combine information on the spatial localization of cells with the downstream analysis of the expression profile of RNA, DNA or proteins. Other single cell isolation technologies rely on suspension based cell isolation, which loses all spatial information. With the current proposal, we want to install a state of the art laser microdissection microscope which will be used as a core facility within Ghent University. The device will be used in a broad range of human and veterinary biomedical research subjects, including, but not limited to virology, bacteriology, oncology, embryology, histology, fish research and angiogenesis research. The system will add an extra dimension to the applications of the existing single cell consortium, which focuses on DNA and RNA sequencing of single cells. The implementation of the laser microdissector at Ghent University will support the ambition of the consortium to play at the forefront of single cell research. Moreover, the device will allow ablation experiments on life cells followed by life cell imaging. In addition, future applications for protein analysis from single cells will be possible with this instrument. The partners within this consortium have experience with laser microdissection and have access to all relevant facilities for the pre and post processing of samples.
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