LIPIDOMICS SHARED RESOURCE (LSR): SUMMARY The Lipidomics Shared Resource (LSR) mission is a specialized facility that provides state-of-the-art technology and resources to study complex lipid metabolism and signaling. Its mission is to support Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) members and the scientific community by offering state-of-the-art instrumentation and cost-effective services to identify bioactive lipids and their roles in tumor cell biology, as well as to discover and evaluate drugs that target these pathways. The LSR is organized into three units: the Analytical, Synthesis, and MALDI-Imaging Units. It is directed by Besim Ogretmen, PhD (DCT), a renowned lipid biologist with expertise in sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids. The LSR is unique and the only NCI cancer center-affiliated lipidomics facility with combined analytical, synthetic, and imaging capabilities. This is enabled by state-of-the- art technology, including Thermo TSQ-50003, SCIEX Q-Trap triple quadrupole/ion trap, Advion TriVersa Nanomat, Bruker Faltonics AutoFlex III linear MALDI, and AutoFLexIII MALDI TOF-TOF. The LSR is highly integrated with HCC and its research programs, as well as other NCI-designated cancer centers. It has become a nationally and internationally recognized scientific resource for academic and commercial organizations outside of HCC. It has integrated matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging capability for direct tissue analysis of sphingolipid and glycolipid species in tissues, drug distribution in tumor xenograft tissue and organs (brain, kidney, liver), and structure confirmation of drug or metabolites of interest by collision-induced fragmentation. Thus, by combining mass spectrometry and MALDI imaging, this resource not only quantifies sphingolipids, glycolipids, free fatty acids, and prostaglandins in tissues but also provides information about their cellular location and distribution. LSR works with investigators to continually develop and validate new reagents and protocols in emerging fields related to lipidomics and cancer. By providing deep exploratory and high throughput lipidomic options to analyze cancer cells and tissues, combined with educational workshops, LSR serves a significant number of users, fostering interactions among basic, clinical, and population scientists at HCC as well as many other cancer centers. During the current cycle, LSR directly supported 151 investigators, resulting in impactful discoveries, top-tier publications, programmatic grants, and clinical studies. LSR is highly integrated with HCC research through effective communication of available services and expertise, as evidenced by the prevalence of lipidomics-related science and data in cancer center publications and investigator-initiated clinical trials. The future goals and impact of LSR include advancing and supporting important emerging scientific disciplines for HCC members and the broader scientific community to help them understand lip...