Turning Flow Cytometry Data into Actionable Insight
Generating flow cytometry data is only part of the story. The Flow Cytometry Shared Resource provides flexible data analysis support to help investigators move from raw files to interpretable, publication- and grant-ready results.
We offer three analysis pathways, allowing researchers to choose the level of support that best fits their experience, timelines, and scientific needs.
Investigator-Led Analysis
For experienced users who prefer full control
Investigators with prior flow cytometry experience may analyze their own data using standard analysis software following successful instrument training.
This option is well-suited for:
- Researchers with established analysis pipelines
- Routine or repeat experiments
- Projects requiring rapid iteration
Core staff remain available for guidance on best practices, troubleshooting, and quality checks as needed.
Collaborative Analysis with Core Staff
Scientific partnership for complex or high-impact studies
For more complex experiments — including high-parameter panels, spectral data, or translational projects — investigators may work directly with Shared
Resource staff to analyze data collaboratively.
This approach supports:
- Advanced gating and population identification
- Spectral unmixing considerations
- Rare population analysis
- Data interpretation aligned with experimental goals
This option is strongly recommended for new assays, novel panels, and projects supporting grant submissions or manuscripts.
Full-Service Data Analysis
End-to-end support from raw files to figures
For investigators who prefer comprehensive support, core staff can perform full data analysis, delivering organized results and summary outputs in consultation with the research team.
This option is commonly used for:
- Time-sensitive projects
- Large or multi-sample datasets
- Investigators new to flow cytometry
- Studies requiring consistent analysis across experiments
Analysis is performed in close communication with investigators to ensure biological relevance and accurate interpretation.
What Our Analysis Support Includes
Depending on the selected pathway, analysis support may include:
- Gating strategy development
- Quality control and data validation
- Visualization and figure preparation guidance
- Interpretation of complex or high-dimensional datasets
- Input for manuscripts, presentations, and grant applications
Our goal is not just to analyze data, but to ensure it clearly supports your scientific conclusions.
FlowJo Analysis Software
FlowJo is the primary analysis platform supported by the Flow Cytometry Shared Resource and is used for training, collaborative analysis, and full-service analysis workflows.
FlowJo supports:
- Robust gating and population identification
- Analysis of high-parameter and spectral flow cytometry data
- Consistent, reproducible workflows across experiments and users
- Figure generation for presentations, manuscripts, and grants
Investigators are encouraged to use FlowJo to ensure compatibility with core-supported workflows and to facilitate collaborative analysis and troubleshooting. All labs using the Flow Core have access to one seat on the site license maintained by the Flow Core. Additional seats are available for purchase.
gcresswell [at] gwu [dot] edu (subject: Data%20Analysis%20Consultation) (Schedule a Data Analysis Consultation)