Highly Sensitive Liquid Chromatograph Tandem Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) for Shared Research at Emory University

PROJECT SUMMARY We propose to acquire an ultra high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled with a SCIEX triple quadrupole 7500 tandem mass spectrometer (SCIEX 7500 LC-MS/MS) to be housed in the Targeted Analysis Core (TAC) in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. The TAC provides analytical laboratory services for multi-media characterization and quantification of environmental contaminants and clinical biomarkers to several Emory research centers. The proposed instrument is state-of-the-art and delivers the highest level of speed, performance, and sensitivity currently available. Acquisition of this instrument will transform the sample processing capacity of the core with high sensitivity and robust quantification and allow effective assessment of exposures to a variety of well-known and emerging contaminants and biomarkers in exposure and epidemiological studies ongoing at Emory. NIH-funded Emory research centers will benefit immediately from the new features of the instrument. Researchers from these centers will make use of this instrument to enable a wide range of basic and biomedical research studies aimed at better understanding of the effects of environmental exposures on human health. While this instrument will be mainly used by the major user group, we expect it to impact many other researchers as well. The instrument will be supported by the TAC team with exceptional expertise in analytical chemistry and in providing training and support for high quality environmental exposure assessment.