Mass Spectrometry
Program Overview
The Mass Spectrometry Imaging Core at the CDI is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and provides bioanalytical expertise to researchers and clinicians within the CDI and the local scientific community.
Mass Spectrometry Imaging Core’s Mission
The core is focused on mass spectrometry imaging applications in broad areas of biomedical research and spatial pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies. Our staff are uniquely trained to work in CDI’s Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment laboratories and we provide cutting-edge workflows for mass spectrometry imaging of infectious samples that require biocontainment.
The CDI is also part of the National Cancer Institute-designated Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and additional mass spectrometry resources are available and can be accessed here.
Instrumentation and Services
Technical Services offered:
- Consultation and study design
- Advice and guidance on sample preparation, experimental design and data interpretation.
- Assay development, qualification and validation.
- Transfer of existing assays from literature.
- Support for technical and scientific writing of grant proposals and manuscripts.
Equipment and Instrumentation
Bruker SolariX 2xR 7T Hybrid QqFT-ICR Mass Spectromete
The hybrid quadrupole – Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer is predominantly used for MS imaging of biomolecules and pharmaceuticals. The instrument features a dual ESI/MALDI ion source. Combination of the latest Magnetic Resonance Mass Spectrometry (MRMS), ParaCell and Magnetron control technology provides a maximum resolving power >10M, enabling routine access to Isotopic Fine Structure (IFS) information with high mass accuracy (600 ppb).
HTX-TM Sprayers
The M3 and M5 MALDI mass spectrometry imaging sample preparation systems provide high quality matrix deposition for superior analyte extraction and spatial image resolution.
Leica Laser Microdissection Microscope 7
The LMD7 microscope provides researchers with access to cutting-edge technology for the isolation of single cells or specific cell populations from frozen/FFPE tissue sections, bone sections and cell culture. The captured cells or regions of interest can then be post-processed for a wide range of downstream assays including DNA, RNA, proteomic, lipidomic, metabolomic and pharmaceutical quantitation.
Leica Biosystems CM1860 and CM3050 S Cryostats
The Leica cryostats are used for cutting accurate sections from frozen specimens for laser-capture microdissection and mass spectrometry imaging studies.
Faculty
Claire Carter, Ph.D.
Assistant Member, CDI
Assistant Professor of Pathology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Associate Member, NCI-designated Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium.
Dr. Carter has a multidisciplinary background that encompasses biomedical sciences, clinical histopathology and 15 years of mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry imaging expertise.
claire.carter@hmh-cdi.org