Algorithms Al Fresco: Challenges in Visualizing High Dimensional Flow Cytometry Data

The last 20 years has seen an explosion in the technological capabilities of flow cytometers. Today it is routine to measure 20 fluorescent particles per cell, with cutting edge instrumentation capable of 50 simultaneous measurements. This has led to a proliferation of algorithms and associated challenges in visualizing this data in a way that is meaningful for the scientist to understand the biology of their samples. The talk will provide a history and description of these algorithms and their use within the field of flow cytometry as well as challenges and caveats for their use.

About the presenter
David Novo, Ph.D., began his career in flow cytometry in the lab of Howard Shapiro, studying the effects of antibiotics on bacteria using flow. Novo subsequently obtained a doctorate in biophysics from UCLA. For the past 20 years, he has worked with De Novo Software, a company specializing in creating data analysis solutions for flow and image cytometry. The company’s FCS Express software is currently used by thousands of researchers and clinicians around the world. Novo has published several papers on advanced data analysis techniques.