Waters Desorption Electrospray (DESI) XS TQ Absolute imaging mass spectrometry system

Abstract With this proposal, we are requesting funds to acquire a DESI XS Xevo TQ Absolute mass spectrometer from Waters for bioimaging applications in drug discovery and development at the Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery (SIDD) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). The SIDD capitalizes on UTMB’s world-class research in infectious disease, neuroscience, and other disciplines for therapeutic development. SIDD collaborates with academia, industry, government, and philanthropy to pave the way for developing groundbreaking medicines that enhance and prolong human life. Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) is a technique for visualizing detailed 2-dimensional maps of drugs, new drug candidates, metabolites, and biomarkers of disease pathogenesis and efficacious response within biological tissue sections. Therefore, providing multiple avenues of valuable information supporting discovery including, identification of druggable targets, adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs and candidate molecules, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic monitoring. We require this instrument to 1) overcome analytical limitations in current MSI studies, 2) address the lack of access to MSI technology for all investigators wishing to use it, and 3) facilitate new MSI projects that are only possible with the analytical advantages offered by the DESI XS Xevo TQ Absolute. Desorption electrospray (DESI) has unique advantages for MSI including enhanced metabolite detection and a simple workflow with a lack of intensive sample preparation requirements. Furthermore, the instrument we are requesting has a tandem quadrupole mass analyzer, generating targeted MSI datasets with superior sensitivity and selectivity to alternative full scan systems. High spatial resolution imaging required to visualize analytes within small tissue compartments and cell populations is made possible due to the sensitivity and rapid image acquisition speeds offered by the instrument. Our researchers either currently use, or plan to use, MSI for drug discovery and development projects in UTMB areas of excellence in infectious disease, kidney disease, and neuroscience research. The exceptional MSI capabilities provided by the DESI XS TQ Absolute will bring unique value to the funded studies described in this proposal and have the overarching benefit of enhancing drug discovery and development research at UTMB.