Opening of a School of Spectral Cytometry at

Amsterdam UMC
Amsterdam UMC and Cytek Biosciences have signed a collaboration agreement to establish a
School of Spectral Cytometry at the Microscopy and Cytometry Core Facility of the
Amsterdam UMC – Location VUmc. Amsterdam UMC and Cytek Biosciences are proud of
this new collaboration; the first of its kind in the world.

Cytek Biosciences is a leader in the field of spectral cytometry, an evolution of traditional

polychromatic flow cytometry in which all photons emitted by fluorochromes are collected
and unmixed according to their individual spectral signatures. Incorporating advanced optics
and unmixing algorithms, spectral cytometry enables researchers in the fields of Immunology,
Hematology, Oncology, and other disciplines to simultaneously detect up to 35 different
fluorescent parameters at a single cell level, with enhanced resolution, and without the need
for custom dyes.

The mission of the Amsterdam UMC-Cytek School of Spectral Cytometry is to support

researchers with educational material, individual trainings, and advanced courses in the field
of Spectral Cytometry. In addition, the Amsterdam UMC-Cytek School of Spectral Cytometry
will regularly organize seminars, invite international speakers, and run a research program
aimed at the technical development of spectral cytometry. To this end, the Amsterdam UMC-
Cytek School of Spectral Cytometry will be powered by two Aurora systems. Both of the
instruments at the Amsterdam UMC-Cytek School of Spectral Cytometry will be equipped
with an autosampler system for unattended operation and have either a 4 (UV, violet, blue,
and red) or a 5 (UV, violet, blue, yellow-green, and red) laser configuration, enabling up to 30
or 35 fluorescence parameters, respectively. The instruments will be available for booking to
all researchers and collaborators of the Amsterdam UMC from November 1st, 2019.

An inaugural symposium in Spring 2020 and several educational activities will soon be
announced. Stay tuned and visit the website of the Microscopy and Cytometry Core Facility
for more information.