Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry measures high-order multidimensional data with single cell granularity. This powerful science acquires these measurements at rates of thousands per second and can work with virtually unlimited population sizes, offering incredible statistical uses. To use this data and return a highly purified subpopulation of live functional cells is the magic of cell sorting.

Given this power, the CoRE provides all members of the Mount Sinai community the instrumentation and subject expertise to incorporate flow cytometry and cell sorting into any research project. Please explore these web pages to learn more about our amazing services and brilliant people.

Meet the Team, Flow Cytometry

Meet the scientists in charge of the Flow Cytometry CoRE.

Jordi Ochando, PhD
Director
jordi.ochando@mssm.edu
Dr. Ochando is Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine and Oncological Sciences and is a member of the Immunology Institute and Tisch Cancer Institute. His laboratory investigates the origin, development and immune regulatory function of monocyte-derived suppressive cells (MDSC). Since MDSC have considerable relevance to the crucial problem as why a growing tumor cannot be rejected despite the recognition of tumor associated antigens, Dr. Ochando's  laboratory investigates the immunological mechanisms of tumor acceptance mediated by MDSC, which can be exploited to prevent allograft rejection in transplantation.

Christopher Bare
Laboratory Operations Manager
christopher.bare@mssm.edu
Christopher Bare has been a flow cytometry professional since 1995 in a variety of commercial and academic institutions including BD Biosciences, Rockefeller University, AnaptysBio, MSKCC, Weill Cornell, Galapagos Genomics, and UCSF Gladstone Institutes. His research experience has encompassed human disease from HIV to diabetes to psoriasis, as well as the prokaryotic and plant kingdoms. Chris received his degree from Cornell University, with additional graduate study at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Gina Viavattene, MS
Assistant Manager
gina.viavattene@mssm.edu
Gina joined the CORE in 2017 after several years in a local Genomics Core. She brings special focus on single cell applications with her expertise in sorting. Gina holds a Master's in Biology from St John's University.

XuQiang Qiao, MS
Senior Associate Researcher
xuqiang.qiao@mssm.edu
Xuqiang Qiao has worked in the Mount Sinai flow facility since 2008, with his involvement if flow cytometry starting earlier in 2006. Before discovering his calling in cell sorting, he had worked 5 years in a bioresearch lab. Xuqiang Qiao received his bachelor degree from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. 

Edgardo Ariztia, PhD
Senior Associate Researcher
edgardo.ariztia@mssm.edu
Edgardo is an immunologist who joined the CORE in 2017 from the ISMMS Department of Oncological Sciences. Edgardo is an expert in many aspects of immunophentyping and molecular biology to complement his cytometry skills. Edgardo achieved his PhD at Rush University with subsequent postdoc experience at ISMMS.

Rhea Gulati
Associate Researcher
rhea.gulati@mssm.edu
Rhea joined the CORE in 2019 after completing her Bachelor's degree at Stony Brook University. She brings fast-paced cytometry experience from previous employment at Hospital for Special Surgery. Rhea is a specialist at applying high-dimensional data analysis algorithms to flow cytometry. She is also the resident expert in the use of the Amnis ImageStream cytometer.

Melissa McCarthy
Associate Researcher
Melissa.mccarthy@mssm.edu
Melissa joined the CoRE in 2020 after completing her MS at the College of Staten Island. She also holds an adjunct Biology Professor position at CUNY. Melissa brings her cytometry skill and scientific insight with a primary focus on the Cancer Center cytometers.

About Acknowledgments

The lifeblood of an academic institution is publication. Likewise the metric of success of a shared resource facility is acknowledgement. Please remember to acknowledge the contribution of the CoRE to your publications.

Authorship, however, should follow the guidelines set forth in the Faculty Handbook.

The Flow Cytometry Center of Research Excellence maintains three rooms in the Icahn Medical Institute and two in the Hess Center for Science and Medicine within the Tisch Cancer Institute.

Room 13-05
This room contains the analyzer cytometers, as well as standalone data analysis workstations. Access to this room is restricted to approved users who have up-to-date bloodborne pathogen and laser safety training. Access is through the CoRE Staff or by training as a self-operate user.

Room 13-52a
This room contains one FACSAria cell sorter and two Miltenyi Tyto microfluidic cell sorters placed within biosafety cabinets to facilitate BSL2 sorting of human and potentially pathogenic material. Access to this room is restricted to approved sorter users who have up-to-date bloodborne pathogen and laser safety training. Access is through the CoRE Staff or by training as a self-operate sort user.

Room 13-72
This room contains one FACSAria cell sorter. Access to this room is restricted to approved users who have up-to-date bloodborne pathogen and laser safety training. Access is through the CoRE Staff or by training as a self-operate user.

Room S5-304
This room contains three FACSAria cell sorters placed within biosafety cabinet to facilitate BSL2 sorting of human and potentially pathogenic material. Access to this room is restricted to approved sorter users who have up-to-date bloodborne pathogen and laser safety training. Access is through the CoRE Staff or by training as a self-operate sort user.

Room S6-308
This room is an open access room containing data analysis workstations. This room is a site for user training.