CORE 2 - Mass Spectrometry Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Core 2-Lipid Mass Spectrometry Core The Lipid Mass Spectrometry Core (LMSC) will draw on the strong lipid mass spectrometry culture at UT Southwestern in the Center for Human Nutrition that has been developed and is managed by Dr. Jeff McDonald to serve needs of UT Southwestern NORC investigators. Through an extensive suite of instruments in the Center along with significant experience and knowledge in all aspects of mass spectrometry-based lipid analysis, the goal of this Core is to support all NORC investigators to provide lipid measurements needed relevant to their NORC research projects. The three primary objectives of the LMSC are: 1) Provide quantitative analysis of targeted lipid classes that include fatty acids, sterols/oxysterols, bile acids, steroids, eicosanoids, and sphingolipids; 2) Provide untargeted, relative lipidomic analysis that covers the major classes of lipids including steryl esters, glycerolipids, phospholipids, and sphingolipids; and 3) Develop novel methods to support unique needs of NORC investigators. The services and capabilities provided by the LMSC cover almost all aspects of lipid analysis from extraction to analysis to data interpretation and dissemination. The LMSC has proven capabilities from effectively handling large cohorts (clinical and research) for targeted lipid analysis to broad exploratory work on small pilot projects.