High performance liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for quantitative determination of biomarkers, drugs and metabolites in biological matrices

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This proposition includes the acquisition of a QTRAP LC-MS/MS System. This instrument is a hybrid mass spectrometer that combines many conventional ion trap functionalities but deliver triple quadrupole quantitative performance. This instrument is crucial since we retired an 19 years old SCIEX API 3+ instrument in June 2011. Thus, the acquisition of the QTRAP LC-MS/MS is critical for the success of our research program supported by an NSERC discovery grant entitled:"Discovery of neuroproteomic determinants of pain transmission using differential and systematic proteome exploration strategies" received in March 2010 for a period of 5 years. The QTRAP LC-MS/MS instrument offers unmatched qualitative performance for proteomic, peptidomic and drug discovery, as well as the wide dynamic range required for accurate quantitation central to our research activities. Furthermore, the instrument proposed is needed to quantify protein expression using multiplexed isobaric tagging technology and specific multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) into experimental animal models of chronic and neuropathic pain. MRM techniques are the gold standard in quantitative biomarkers discovery and validation. The performance of protein and peptide quantification methods is important in biomarker research since it is used to determine protein expression, performed principal component analysis (PCA) and define valid multiparametric profiles for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Additionally, these types of instrument are an excellent choice to perform quantification of drug and metabolites in complex biological matrices. Drug pharmacokinetic and metabolism are key elements of animal pharmacology research and an integral part of our highly qualified scientists training program in biomedical research. The acquisition of the QTRAP LC-MS/MS will significantly contribute to our effort to develop new mechanistic knowledge of pain transmission, identify specific biomarkers and foster the basis for the development of innovative pain therapies. This new LC-MS/MS will have an immediate impact into our research activities and the training of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP).