# Development and Application of New Ionization Methods for Biological Mass Spectrometry

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 2022 · $546,712

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Mass spectrometry is an extraordinarily powerful bioanalytical technique that has
had a profound impact on our molecular understanding of human health and
disease. Major advances in mass analyzer technology, dissociation techniques,
lasers, and ionization methods are largely attributed to the central role that mass
spectrometry plays in the field of systems biology. While mass spectrometry has
evolved over the last century into a highly effective analytical tool, there remain
significant opportunities for innovation, allowing an even more diverse array of
biological questions to be addressed. This proposal is centered on the
development of new ionization methods for biological mass spectrometry to
enable tissue imaging across several classes of biological molecules. The short-
term objective of this proposal is to further develop and fundamentally
understand this innovative ionization method using real biological systems.
These results will provide a solid foundation from which biological applications
will directly benefit. In this mindset, we will develop and apply these new
ionization methods to tissue imaging in model organisms to gain mechanistic
insights into, 1) ischemic stroke; 2) wound healing; and 3) cardiometabolic
disease. The long-term objective is to establish these new ionization methods as
an enabling bioanalytical technology to effectively address questions in human
health and disease.
Public Description of Proposed Research
Mass spectrometry (MS), the science related to the “weighing of molecules”, has
had a profound impact on the study of human health and disease including
cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, neural development, and
auto-immune diseases. A prerequisite of MS is to convert neutral molecules into
charged species (ions) such that they can be “weighed” by the mass
spectrometer and identified by advanced analytical techniques. The focus of this
research is to develop new ionization methods allowing a more diverse array of
contemporary biomedical questions to be addressed. This will include the
imaging of tissues to ultimately provide new biological insights into stroke, wound
healing and cardiometabolic disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10349766
- **Project number:** 2R01GM087964-10A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **Principal Investigator:** David C. Muddiman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $546,712
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2009-07-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10349766

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10349766, Development and Application of New Ionization Methods for Biological Mass Spectrometry (2R01GM087964-10A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10349766. Licensed CC0.

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