# Ultra-High Precision Mass Spectrometer

> **NIH NIH S10** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2020 · $1,159,106

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Boston University (BU) Department of Chemistry seeks NIH support to acquire a Thermo
Scientific Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid Mass Spectrometer (Fusion Lumos) for its Charles River
Campus (CRC). This instrument would enable investigators on the CRC and collaborators to
advance research in chemical biology and move into new areas that enrich student and
postdoctoral training. In particular, the instrument’s unique and flexible capabilities would enhance
active research projects focusing on determining the molecular targets (mechanism of action) of
bioactive small molecules using innovative liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS)
techniques. These include target identification by Ligand Stabilization/Thermal Profiling, Affinity
Capture, and other chemical-proteomic methods that depend on precision LC/MS to obtain
accurate quantitative and qualitative information on the direct binding targets of bioactive
compounds of interest to researchers in the departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology,
Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine at BU, collaborators at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and in the pharmaceutical industry. Acquisition of this instrument is critical to the
research programs of a number of Major Users (Professors Beeler, Brown, Cheah, Hansen,
Harris, Koehler, Kotton, Kramnik, Liu, Porco, Schaus, Vegas, Whitty and Wolozin), Minor Users
(Professors Connor, Elliott and Feng), one group in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other
potential collaborators. The requested instrument will also play a pivotal role in a joint research
platform, the Target Discovery Laboratory (TDL), developed by Professors Emili and Porco in
2017. The University’s commitment is demonstrated by its investment in the infrastructure for
multi-user research instruments and by its provision of partial salary support for five years totaling
$280,000 for the expert TDL LC/MS spectrometrist (Dr. Mark McComb) as well as support towards
the instrument’s service contract ($111,035). TDL faculty, along with Dr. Norman Lee from the
Chemistry Chemical Instrumentation Center (CIC) will direct and supervise use of the instrument
while the maintenance, operations and training will rest with Dr. McComb. The training of young
scientists in the use and interpretation of precision mass spectrometry and chemical proteomics
will not only facilitate their own research objectives, but will also provide valuable additional
technical knowledge and skills for successful future careers in academia, government and
industry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939216
- **Project number:** 1S10OD026807-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew EMILI
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,159,106
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939216

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939216, Ultra-High Precision Mass Spectrometer (1S10OD026807-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939216. Licensed CC0.

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