MSU's Proteomics, Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility (PMMSF) is currently seeking funds to purchase an Ultra-High performance Liquid Chromatography ? Tandem Mass Spectrometry system (UPLC- MS/MS) for metabolomics research. The current MS system is heavily used, 10 years old, and no longer can generate leading-edge ultra-high resolution data. Metabolomics involves the global analysis of biological small molecules, and is one of the most rapidly developing areas in biological research. Largely driven by technological innovations, the ability of detect and monitor 1000s of biomolecules at the same time is transforming the way drugs are developed, diseases are categorized, and agriculture practices are approached. MSU is a strong player in the field of metabolomics research due to our success at securing external funding for state-of-the-art instrumentation, a strong institutional commitment to support research core facilities, and an overwhelming enthusiasm from faculty to integrate metabolomics in their research programs. We are one of only a handful of academic institutions in the USA that have integrated NMR and mass spectrometry for metabolomics, not only in terms of compatible instrumentation but also in terms of synergistic, intellectual collaborations between NMR and MS research groups. Recent NSF and Murdock awards for acquisition of an integrated LC-SPE-NMR/MS instrumentation platform has helped MSU become the regional leader in metabolomics. Enthusiasm for metabolomics is university wide. Currently, faculty from Mechanical Engineering, Plant Sciences, Animal and Range Sciences, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Health and Human Development, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Microbiology and Immunology, Mathematics, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and Chemistry and Biochemistry are involved in metabolomics research. Demand for mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analyses is already the largest sector of research activities in the MSU Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Mass Spectrometry Facility and continues to expand. In addition, this instrument will serve as a regional instrument for researchers in the western IDeA states and Puerto Rico. To maintain and enhance our metabolomics resources, we are thus requesting a leading edge UPLC-MS/MS instrument that can keep MSU on the forefront of metabolomics research excellence. Specific advantages of the requested instrument include higher mass accuracy, faster collection of fragmentation data, molecular shape profiling, and integrated software for compound identification, which remains a major challenge in the field.
Montana State University is a nationally recognized leader in the field of metabolomics. The research conducted by students, faculty, and staff is leading to breakthroughs in a wide-range of biomedical and clinical arena including arsenic and mercury toxicity, the gut microbiome, metabolic and neurological disease, biofilms, and oxidative stress. The ability to excel in these important health related fields requires access to a leading edge liquid chromatography mass spectrometer as requested in this proposal.
