M2C: Cytometry & Confocal Microscopy

In the framework of the development of TOXALIM Research Centre in Food Toxicology, the acquisition of new technologies based on cell imaging will strategically complete the skills of the research teams and thus should strengthen their competitiveness.

The set up of Cell Imaging facilities (i.e. the Technological Platform M2C - Cytometry & Confocal Microscopy) is willing to offer light microscopy device to the scientific community (among the epifluorescence, confocal, multiphotonic microscopes) and flow cytometry equipment as well as technical expertise to implement these technologies.

This equipment will allow studying biological samples thanks to optical methods imaging the fluorescence emitted by chromophore molecules. These technologies will complement results obtained from cellular and molecular biology research by imaging effects on the cells or organelles and the molecular "traficking » within the cell in reply to toxins and other xenobiotics. These facilities will be one-site located and accessible in priority to research teams belonging to TOXALIM but will also be open to external teams from the public domain or private sector. However, the pricing policy of its technical services will be in favour of the scientists working within TOXALIM.

M2C will be placed under the responsibility of an engineer who will

• ensure the maintenance of the equipment,
• manage the schedule of occupation of the device,
• train staff to use properly the equipment,
• provide advice to choose the appropriate equipment and technology corresponding to scientific projects.

The image processing software will be also in free access to users. The storage of data may not be managed by the M2C and will be carried out under the responsibility of users.

This technological plateau is set up in close cooperation with the other cell imaging facilities of Toulouse (IFR 150 and 109, IPBS) who are members of the "Toulouse Rio Imaging" (TRI) Platform that received the RIO label approval in 2003 and IBiSA label in 2008. Indeed, the goal of M2C is to integrate the TRI Platform in order to join a network sharing skills, technological survey and management tools.

Accordingly, although the definition of the type of device to be acquired by M2C should take in account the current and future needs of the research teams, their final characteristics will be defined in agreement with the TRI Platform to ensure a complementary offer and an optimal quality of services.

The management will be harmonized with that of the TRI Platform: the reservation timetable will be online on the TRI website and pricing should be consistent with the price already invoiced. A follow-up form of each user will be set up to record his level of skills for each device. This form will allow to forecast the degree of autonomy which may be left to the users on the other TRI facilities. A quality assurance policy will be conducted to acquire the level recommended to get the IBiSA label. This policy will be pursued to obtain the ISO 9001-2000 in a strategy to develop partnerships with the industrial sector.