Tuesday, May 13, 2025
5/13/2025
Orbitrap Eclipse Mass Spectrometer for Northwestern University Neuroproteomic Collaboration Hub - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Northwestern University Proteomics Core requests funds to purchase, install, and operate an Orbitrap (OT) Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer (MS) and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography system for bottom-up proteomic studies. The system will be housed in an available dedicated instrument room within the Department of Neurology and will be made directly accessible to the Northwestern research community through the Proteomics Core. The new instrument will be reinforced by the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute business office which will handle the billing, staff payroll, and post award administration. The existing four OT instruments available for bottom-up proteomics at Northwestern are constantly overbooked, are becoming outdated, and the current demand for OT based proteomic analysis far exceeds the available resources. The User Group has a concentrated and dedicated research base for the proposed instrument and includes 20 NIH funded projects from 21 PIs which bring more than 6.4M total in direct funds per year from the NIH. In order to ensure that these projects are impactful and reach their goals, access to a robust and flexible MS, specifically the requested OT Eclipse is critically important. The new instrument will accelerate the User Group’s research activities and support a cohort of colleagues who have each previously collaborated to obtain meaningful proteomic data and published numerous papers together. The User Group predominantly focuses on interdisciplinary neuroscience research, however moving forward we will build bridges to other areas of biomedical research including virology, reproductive aging, and cancer. The PI and Core director have several decades of experience with operating and maintaining modern MS instruments. Over this time, they have established a record of effective collaboration, shown high productivity, and proven they are dedicated to data sharing. The proposed instrument will be used in a fair and transparent manner with equal access for all the major and minor users and will be made accessible the entire NU research community. In this way, the instrument will elevate productivity across the Northwestern research community, Chicagoland, the Midwest, and beyond. OT instrumentation has reached new heights and proteomic data analysis workflows have become more robust, which has triggered an increasing demand for OT MSs. The OT Eclipse will provide highly sensitive analysis of post translational modifications, reveal new protein-protein interactions, facilitate accurate multiplexed quantitative proteomic analysis, and add value to all the proposed projects. Ultimately, the combined capabilities of this instrument will provide a flexible platform for a wide range of investigators to utilize and will bring a new and missing dimension of analysis that will transform their research programs.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).