The Diet, Digestive tract, & Disease (3D) CFI-ORF Basic Science Research Facility

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
What the facility does

Cellular biology research of diseases related to the diet and the digestive tract

Areas of expertise

The Diet, Digestive tract, & Disease (3D) CFI-ORF Basic Science Research Facility is a centre of excellence in fundamental biology and health research. We specialize in cell-based assays, biochemical assays, cellular and small animal in-vivo time lapse and 3D imaging in full level 2 biosafety containment. The CFI 3D facility instrumentation consists of state-of-the-art equipment providing cutting-edge data acquisition and analysis in a user-friendly environment. We provide services on these core instruments consisting of usage, training, full assistance and assay development, at a very competitive cost.

The (3D) CFI-ORF Basic Science Research Facility is also associated with the Diet, Digestive tract, & Disease (3D) CFI-ORF Clinical Research Facilities. Both are part of the larger multidisciplinary research infrastructure of the 3D initiative that spans the University of Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital, and the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Research services

FRET-based assays, automated calcium imaging, luminescence and  absorbance assays, high capacity and  high throughput microscopy and  screening, X-ray (bone density, peripheral fat measurement) bioluminescence and  fluorescence, non-invasive in vivo imaging, multiplex measurements, hormones, cytokines and  chemokines measurements

Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Manufacturing and processing
Name of specialized lab Name of equipment Description of function
The 3D CFI facility BMG PHERAstar FSX Versatile and  FRET-compliant plate reader
  Thermo Scientific Cellomics ArrayScan VTI High-capacity and  fully automated single cell fluorescent microscopy platform
  PerkinElmer IVIS Spectrum Bioluminescent and  fluorescent in vivo 3D imager in Biosafety Level 2 approved animal room
  Meso Scale Discovery SECTOR Imager r 2400A Multiplex reader
  Bruker In-Vivo Xtreme Radioluminescent, bioluminescent and fluorescent in vivo 2D imager in an approved animal room (digital high resolution X-ray, bone density & peripheral fat measurements)
  Nikon A1R multi-photon microscope Ultrafast Multi-color 2-photon microscope in an approved animal room
 

Nikon Swept Field confocal

microscope

Live cell imaging with a High sensitivity and High Speed detection fluorescence microscope
 

Applied Biosystems ViiA 7 rtPCR

system

Highly productive and user friendly system
  Beckman Coulter Optima XPN-80 Ultracentrifuge Ultracentrifugation up to 80000rpm or 548000rcf. Fully digital control console, with touch -enabled screen for easy programming
  Beckman Allegra X-15R centrifuge Allegra X-15R—Benchtop centrifuge.