Tecan Resolvex for University of Utah

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Project Summary / Abstract This proposal requests funding for a Tecan Resolvex A200 (Resolvex) to the Metabolomics Core (Core) for two primary purposes, to: 1) increase sample processing throughput, and 2) decrease human sample processing error. The Core provides a wide array of mass spectrometry-based services including metabolomics, lipidomics, flux tracer analysis, and targeted metabolite/drug quantitation. Over the past four fiscal years, the Core has served an average of 53 Principle Investigators (PI) per year, 40 PI’s from 20 departments at the University of Utah (UU) and an average of 13 users from outside academic institutions. The Core only tracks funding sources from UU researchers with an average of 23 NIH grants served per year. Other major funding sources include the American Diabetes Association, DOD, HHMI, JDRF, NSF, USDA as well as other foundation grants. The Core currently process approximately 10,000 samples a year, with most extractions performed manually using liquid/liquid extraction methods. This work is tedious, low throughput and prone to human error. Solid phase extraction (SPE) methodology has long standing in both academia and industry for the extraction of drugs and pesticides from biological matrixes. Recently, several technologies that use SPE for metabolomics and lipidomics have been introduced by Agilent. These technologies serve two functions, 1) they remove interfering chemical entities from a sample matrix, and 2) due to their 96-well format, increase sample through put. In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for Core services, a high throughput modernization plan is necessary. The Resolvex is central to this, it is needed to perform automated sample wash and elution steps from 96-well SPE plates by the precise addition of solvents to each well. The positive pressure mechanism used to elute solvents from each well ensures uniform sample preparation. Without this device, it is very difficult to leverage all the advantages provided by these new SPE technologies. The Resolvex is central to the modernization plan of the Core and will immediately make an impact in both sample throughput and data quality. It will be immediately used for the extraction and purification of both metabolites and lipids. In addition, by limiting the human error associated by manual pipetting, it will make a considerable difference in data quality.