AB SCIEX 5500 QTRAP Mass Spectrometer for Lipidomics and Metabolomics Research

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has a very active and growing critical mass of funded investigators examining how dynamic changes in bioactive lipids influence metabolism and the signaling pathways that regulate normal and pathological human cellular functions. Funds are requested for the acquisition of the Applied Biosystems/SCIEX 5500 Quadrupole Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer with electrospray and nanospray ion sources (5500 QTRAP) that will enhance the analysis capabilities of the Lipidomics/Metabolomics core facility. This new mass spectrometer system will dramatically increase the our ability to obtain more information from complex samples, increase qualitative and quantitative analysis of low abundance, bioactive lipids, drastically reduce sample size requirements important for patient samples, and finally, will allow researchers to investigate localized lipid metabolism and function in subcellular organelles. As described in this application, 7 NIH-funded scientists and clinicians, major users with over $7 M NIH supported research programs, and 10 minor users from 8 different departments have specific needs for this equipment. The 5500 QTRAP system together with the existing QTRAPs will be operated as a shared research resource to provide essential support for our ongoing research programs and to facilitate new collaborative research initiatives for lipid identification, quantitation, an characterization, with particular emphasis on cell signaling and functional lipidomics. These needs for enhanced sensitivity, analysis of more complex lipids and metabolites, smaller sample sizes, and increasing demand from more research projects provide the principal justification for this request. The instrument will be administered as a VCU core resource under the technical direction of Dr. Jeremy Allegood, who has extensive technical experience in lipid analysis and administration of core resources. Drs. Charles Chalfant (the PI) and Sarah Spiegel will serve as co- Scientific Directors and will serve on the Internal Advisory Committee together with major users from other departments to oversee equitable use of the instrument for the benefit of NIH-funded investigators and the university research environment. The purchase of this equipment is essential to continuing development and realization of the full potential of lipidomics and metabolomics research toward better understanding of normal cellular function and human disease at VCU. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has a very active and growing critical mass of funded investigators examining how dynamic changes in bioactive lipids influence metabolism and the signaling pathways that regulate normal and pathological human cellular functions. Funds are requested for the acquisition of a new mass spectrometer system (e.g. Applied Biosystems/SCIEX 5500 Quadrupole Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer with electrospray and nanospray ion sources) to dramatically enhance the analysis capabilities of the Lipidomics/Metabolomics core facility at VCU to aid NIH-funded investigators undertake scientific research toward curing human diseases.