At the recent Thermo Fisher Scientific sponsored workshop at the MSACL 2025 conference in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Patrick Vanderboom from Mayo Clinic shared groundbreaking research into the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). His team’s work highlights not only the biological promise of EV-based biomarkers, but also the power of complementary mass spectrometry strategies, leveraging deep discovery on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/836">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer</a> and highly sensitive, multiplexed targeted validation on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1149">Thermo Scientific Stellar mass spectrometer</a>.&nbsp;Together, these approaches are redefining what is achievable in both discovery and validation proteomics.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Breaking_Sensitivity_Barriers_How_MS_is_Transforming_Biomarker_Discovery_for_ALS_and_Beyond_75c7fe8571.jpg" alt="Photo: Thermo Fisher Scientific: Breaking Sensitivity Barriers: How MS³ is Transforming Biomarker Discovery for ALS and Beyond" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Breaking_Sensitivity_Barriers_How_MS_is_Transforming_Biomarker_Discovery_for_ALS_and_Beyond_75c7fe8571.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="512"><h3>The challenge of sensitivity in biomarker discovery</h3>Detecting disease-relevant proteins from complex, low-abundance samples like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma remains a formidable analytical challenge. Even with advanced LC-MS workflows, background noise and insufficient detection sensitivity can obscure critical peptide signals, limiting biomarker validation and reproducibility.Dr. Vanderboom’s team confronted this head-on while developing workflows to identify EV-based ALS-specific markers. Early targeted assays using traditional MS² approaches revealed promising candidates but struggled with low signal intensity and limited reproducibility, clear signs of hitting the sensitivity ceiling.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Breaking_Sensitivity_Barriers_How_MS_is_Transforming_Biomarker_Discovery_for_ALS_and_Beyond_2_6be7e53a18.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific - Breaking Sensitivity Barriers - How MS³ is Transforming Biomarker Discovery for ALS and Beyond 2.jpg" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Breaking_Sensitivity_Barriers_How_MS_is_Transforming_Biomarker_Discovery_for_ALS_and_Beyond_2_6be7e53a18.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="600"><h3>The MS³ advantage</h3>To overcome these challenges, the Mayo team (pictured above) explored targeted validation on the Stellar MS. Stellar displayed an increase in sensitivity while achieving a fast cycle time, allowing for more points across the peak and increased reproducibility. Several peptides suffered from interfering signal. For these targets, the team explored MS³ (multi-stage fragmentation). By introducing an additional fragmentation and isolation stage, MS³ effectively reduces background interference, producing cleaner spectra and allowing for lower limits of detection.In Vanderboom’s words:“You can see there’s quite a bit of noise in the background, but if you look at that same peptide when we acquired it with MS³, it just cleans up the background. It’s almost like high resolution.”The result? Peptides that were previously undetectable became measurable, enabling discrimination between ALS cases and controls with improved confidence and reproducibility.<h3>From discovery to clinical potential</h3>EVs are a promising new source of biomarkers, but several challenges have limited progress. By leveraging the Obitrap Astral for deep, unbiased discovery using fast DIA with narrow isolation windows, the team identified nearly 6,000 proteins from small EVs in CSF, an unprecedented level of coverage. This expansion in detectable proteome depth represents a critical step toward finding reliable biomarkers that can distinguish ALS from similar neurological conditions.Although state of the art discovery workflows allow for unprecedented depth, confirming targets identified on this platform can be difficult. This is where Stellar comes in. The ability to run highly multiplexed assays with extreme sensitivity, fast LC gradients, and MS³-enabled selectivity allows investigators to fully capitalize on even the most challenging candidate biomarkers.<h3>Conclusion</h3>The incorporation of MS³ workflows on Stellar marks a pivotal evolution in targeted proteomics. As Dr. Vanderboom’s work demonstrates, increasing selectivity while maintaining extreme sensitivity doesn’t just enhance data — it opens new analytical frontiers for diseases where early detection is vital. By combining robust EV isolation with advanced MS³ enabled methods, researchers are now poised to illuminate the molecular signatures of neurodegeneration with unprecedented clarity.Watch the full workshop recording: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lweW3JRr0Ow">Extracellular Vesicle Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Disease</a><h3>Resources</h3><ul><li>Related blogs in this series → <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/7480">Accelerating Biomarker Discovery and Validation: From Discovery to Clinical Utility – AnalyteGuru</a></li><li>Other on-demand webinars featuring Stellar → <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/4735">Next-generation workflows for small molecule quantitation using the Thermo Scientific Stellar mass spectrometer</a></li><li>Promotions → <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/mass-spectrometer-price-affordability-programs.html">Mass Spectrometer Affordability Programs | Thermo Fisher Scientific – US</a></li><li>Follow along <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/about-us/events/industrial/msacl-us.html">MSACL 2025</a> for more information on Thermo Fisher Scientific participation in MSACL 2026</li><li>Interested in speaking opportunities at future events? Contact <a href="mailto:ema.ruzic@thermofisher.com">Ema Ruzic</a></li></ul><blockquote>Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#Stellar #MayoClinic #Biomarkers #MassSpectrometry</blockquote>

Breaking Sensitivity Barriers: How MS³ is Transforming Biomarker Discovery for ALS and Beyond

The new NIST26 release expands LC-MS/MS data processing with integrated chromatogram analysis and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2462">MS/MS library searching</a>. Within the Chromatogram Window, users can load LC-MS/MS data, configure processing parameters, search spectral libraries, filter results, review identified components, and export selected results for further evaluation.This practical guide is based on James Little’s Processing MS/MS Data in NIST26 Chromatogram Window material from Mass Spec Interpretation Services. It walks through the fundamental workflow for processing MS/MS data in the NIST26 Chromatogram Window, from selecting the appropriate processing mode and input file to library searching, reviewing candidate identifications, and exporting results.<blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Processing_MSMS_Data_in_Chromatogram_Window_NIST_26_09aa3c2996.pdf">Download PDF handout here</a></blockquote><h3>Before You Begin: Navigating the Chromatogram Window</h3>The workflow assumes that users are already familiar with configuring and navigating the NIST26 Chromatogram Window. For new users, the author recommends first reviewing the separate material dedicated to configuring and navigating this environment.NIST26 also provides extensive integrated help. Pressing F1 while working in the Chromatogram Window opens documentation and practical tips for processing tandem MS data. The presentation emphasizes that this help resource contains useful information for understanding individual functions and settings.<h4>1. Set Processing to Tandem Mode</h4>If both EI and tandem NIST software are installed, the first useful step is to specify the type of spectra being processed.<blockquote>In the Chromatogram Window, select: File → Select Spectrum Type → Tandem</blockquote>Selecting Tandem mode simplifies menu navigation and ensures that functions relevant to MS/MS data processing are readily available.<h4>2. Prepare Your Data in mzML Format</h4>For the workflow described in the presentation, NIST26 processes mzML files. Data stored in proprietary instrument formats therefore need to be converted before processing.The presentation recommends using ProteoWizard/msconvert for file conversion.<blockquote>Once the mzML file is available, processing can be started through: File → Analyze MS/MS Input File</blockquote>Select the appropriate mzML file and configure the required processing parameters.<h4>3. Set the Mass Tolerance</h4>Mass tolerance is one of the important parameters used during data processing and spectral matching.The presentation identifies:<ul><li>20 ppm</li><li>40 ppm</li></ul>as reasonable tolerance values.The appropriate setting should ultimately reflect the characteristics of the dataset and instrumentation. These values should therefore be regarded as practical starting points for the demonstrated workflow rather than universal settings for every LC-MS/MS analysis.<h4>4. Select Libraries for Searching</h4>One of the useful features of NIST26 is the ability to search multiple libraries simultaneously.For the type of analysis demonstrated, James Little identifies hr_msms_nist as the preferred library. Depending on the application, users can also work with APCI and low-resolution libraries or free crowd-sourced libraries.Searching several relevant libraries can broaden the identification space, particularly when investigating complex LC-MS/MS datasets.<h4>5. Examine the Initial Results</h4>After processing is complete, the results are displayed directly within the Chromatogram Window. The workspace combines several types of information, including:<ul><li>the chromatogram</li><li>a list of detected components and search results</li><li>information about library hits</li><li>comparison of experimental and library spectra</li><li>proposed compound identity and structural information</li></ul>This layout makes it possible to move quickly from a chromatographic feature to its potential identification and visually evaluate the quality of the spectral match.Abundance can also be displayed using either a linear or logarithmic scale. A logarithmic view can be particularly helpful when the chromatogram contains both highly abundant signals and much weaker components. Pages 6 and 7 of the presentation illustrate the difference between these two views.<h4>6. Save Your Configuration</h4>Once the desired program parameters have been established across the relevant windows, including the Chromatogram Window, it is useful to save the configuration.NIST allows configurations to be saved and restored as *.ini files.This can be particularly valuable when a laboratory uses different processing configurations for different datasets, libraries, or analytical workflows. Instead of manually recreating the settings each time, users can restore a previously saved configuration.According to the presentation, the Save Configuration option is available from the menu in the Lib Search tab.<h5>7. Filter the Results</h5>Initial processing can generate a large number of potential identifications. NIST26 therefore provides several options for filtering and simplifying the results.Functions available from the upper area of the Chromatogram Window include:<ul><li>Best Hits</li><li>Only IDs</li><li>Bkgd</li><li>Filter Scores</li></ul>Changing these filters affects the displayed hit list and the identifications shown in the chromatogram. This allows users to progressively narrow the results and concentrate on components that are most relevant to the analytical task.<h5>Be Careful with the Background Filter</h5>The presentation specifically highlights the Bkgd setting.According to the material, NIST suggests a background setting of approximately 75%, and this is normally useful. However, the author observed a few instances in which applying the background filter removed major peaks despite their good library search scores.These peaks had an XIC value of 0.If an important candidate disappears after applying background filtering, the settings should therefore be reviewed. For these particular peaks, the presentation notes that Bkgd = Any was required.<h4>8. Use Filter Scores with Care</h4>The Filter Scores function provides another way to remove lower-quality spectra from the displayed results.According to the NIST help information cited in the presentation, filtering is based on five quality factors:<ul><li>background</li><li>purity</li><li>max2min</li><li>signal-to-noise</li><li>isotope analysis</li></ul>The filter can be configured to display only identifications above a specified minimum score.The procedure presented is:<ol><li>Turn on Filter Scores above the chromatogram.</li><li>Enter the desired minimum score.</li><li>Select Fixed in the corresponding selection box.</li><li>Only identifications above the specified score will remain visible.</li></ol>The presentation gives 900 as an example setting for obtaining a clear view of the TIC.The author also notes that the practical interpretation of this feature is not necessarily straightforward and recommends experimenting with it to determine whether it is useful for a particular workflow.<h4>9. Sort Results and Create a List of Components of Interest</h4>The results table offers considerable flexibility for organizing potential identifications.Clicking a column header allows the results to be sorted according to the selected parameter. Multiple entries can be selected using Shift or Ctrl together with the left mouse button.Selected entries can then be sent to a smaller list containing only components of interest.The presentation emphasizes that there are many possible approaches to organizing the results. Rather than imposing a single rigid workflow, NIST26 allows users to adapt result selection and review to their specific analytical requirements.<h4>10. Manually Review Candidate Identifications</h4>Automated library searching should not necessarily be treated as the final step in compound identification. Once a list of relevant components has been created, the presentation recommends reviewing the candidates individually.A practical approach is to:<ol><li>Sort the results by RT (retention time).</li><li>Left-click the first hit to highlight it.</li><li>Use the up and down arrow keys to move through the list.</li><li>Carefully inspect the spectral comparison for every candidate.</li><li>Decide whether each identification should be included in the final report.</li></ol>An important tool for this review is the butterfly display in the upper-right portion of the workspace. It provides a visual comparison of the measured and reference spectra.Combining automated search scores with expert examination of the spectral match provides a more considered approach to reviewing proposed identifications.<h4>11. Export Selected Results to Excel</h4>Once the relevant identifications have been reviewed, selected results can easily be transferred into a spreadsheet.Highlight the desired entries, right-click, and choose:Copy Selected Hits to ClipboardThe copied information can then be pasted directly into Microsoft Excel.This provides a convenient way to create a customized results table for further evaluation, documentation, or preparation of an analytical report. The workflow is illustrated on page 13 of the presentation.<h4>12. Perform a More Detailed Review with the XIC Browser</h4>For candidate identifications requiring further investigation, the corresponding spectrum can be sent to the XIC Browser/XIC Analyzer.<blockquote>From the selected result, right-click and choose: Send To → XIC Analyzer</blockquote>This opens a more detailed view of the MS/MS data.The example on page 14 demonstrates how the isotope pattern can support an identification involving two chlorine atoms. The XIC Browser also provides MS1 information underlying the MS2 spectrum, adding another layer of information for evaluating a candidate.As with the main Chromatogram Window, users can press F1 or access Help for more detailed information about the XIC Browser and its functions.<h4>Recommended NIST26 Workflow</h4><blockquote>The overall procedure can be summarized as:mzML data → Tandem mode → mass tolerance settings → MS/MS library selection → data processing → result filtering → selection of relevant components → manual spectral review → XIC review → export of results</blockquote>A key advantage of the NIST26 Chromatogram Window is its flexibility. Users do not have to accept every automatically proposed identification. Instead, results can be filtered, sorted, organized into custom lists, and individually reviewed before being included in the final report.<h3>Conclusion</h3>The NIST26 Chromatogram Window provides a more integrated environment for processing LC-MS/MS data and performing spectral library searches. The workflow presented by James Little begins with mzML data and appropriate Tandem mode configuration, followed by library selection, processing, filtering, and systematic review of candidate identifications.An important principle is not to rely exclusively on automated scores. Filters can help transform a large results set into a manageable list of candidates, but final evaluation should also consider spectral comparisons, chromatographic information, and, where appropriate, additional examination in the XIC Browser.The ability to save processing configurations and export selected results to Excel further supports the development of practical and repeatable workflows for routine LC-MS/MS data processing.

Processing MS/MS Data in NIST26 Chromatogram Window

In September 2026, Prague will become a global meeting point for the chromatography community. From 6 to 10 September 2026, the city will host the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/events/644">35th International Symposium on Chromatography – ISC 2026</a>, one of the leading international events dedicated to chromatography, separation science, and analytical chemistry.Shimadzu is proud to support this prestigious event as a Platinum Sponsor.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISC_2026_Shimadzu_as_a_platinum_sponsor_mensi_8c9f3eb6e7.jpg" alt="ISC 2026: Platinum sponsor Shimadzu" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISC_2026_Shimadzu_as_a_platinum_sponsor_mensi_8c9f3eb6e7.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1066">ISC 2026 represents a unique opportunity for scientists, researchers, industry experts, application specialists, and technology providers to meet, exchange knowledge, and discuss the latest developments in chromatography and separation science. The conference will bring together experts from academia, pharmaceutical industry, environmental analysis, food safety, healthcare, life sciences, and many other fields where analytical technologies play an essential role.We would like to warmly invite our customers, partners, colleagues, and the wider scientific community to join us at ISC 2026 in Prague. The conference will offer an inspiring scientific programme, lectures by internationally recognised experts, dedicated sessions on current trends and challenges, an exhibition area, and valuable opportunities for networking with the global chromatography community.Following the successful <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/events/642">ISC 2024 in Liverpool</a>, ISC 2026 will bring this important international symposium to the heart of Europe. We are looking forward to meeting you in Prague and contributing together to a strong and successful edition of ISC.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/1728218963766_9d5394a9da.jpg" alt="Gesa Schad: Shimadzu at ISC 2024 in Liverpool" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_1728218963766_9d5394a9da.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="1280" height="1280">Visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/events/1371">Shimadzu at ISC 2026</a> in Prague and be part of one of the key international events in chromatography and separation science.<blockquote>Registration is open on the official conference website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.isc2026.org">www.isc2026.org</a></blockquote><h3>Shimadzu Vendor Seminar: Three New Reasons to Rethink Your Workflow</h3><ul><li>07 September 2026</li><li>12 PM - &nbsp;13 PM</li></ul>Join us for an engaging seminar introducing three new analytical solutions designed to help laboratories work smarter, respond faster, improve robustness, and achieve greater confidence in their results. As analytical demands continue to grow, laboratories need technologies that not only deliver strong performance, but also enhance efficiency, flexibility, and ease of operation. This seminar will highlight how our latest innovations in IC, UHPLC, and GC-MS/MS can streamline workflows, support complex applications, and create new opportunities for productivity across your laboratory.<h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=nexera+ic">Nexera IC</a> – New compact ion chromatography solution for reliable, high-sensitivity anion and cation analysis.</h5><ul><li>Dr. Gesa Schad</li></ul><h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=nexera+x4">Nexera X4</a> – Next-generation UHPLC platform designed for ultra-high performance and robust operation without compromise.</h5><ul><li>Dr. Gesa Schad</li></ul><h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/c146_e517_16e9bfd835.pdf">GCMS-TQ RX Series</a> – Advanced triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS systems engineered for enhanced sensitivity and dependable trace-level analysis.</h5><ul><li>Dr. Waldemar Weber</li></ul><blockquote><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.shimadzu.eu/forms/vendor-seminar-registartion_isc2026.html">Register here to attend Shimadzu Vendor Seminar</a></blockquote><h3>Scientific Programme Presentation</h3><ul><li>08 September 2026</li><li>10:30 – 12:00</li><li>Fun 5: Separations with Supercritical and Subcritical Fluids&nbsp;</li></ul><h5>Accelerating Forensic Analysis: A Rapid SFC-MS Workflow for Novel Regioisomeric Fluorofentanyl Derivatives and Related Compounds</h5><ul><li>Dr. Jennifer Field, Shimadzu UK, Milton Keynes, UK</li></ul><h3>Winners of the Shimadzu student sponsorship</h3>We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Shimadzu student sponsorship for free tickets to attend the ISC 2026 conference. We received a great number of high-quality abstracts, showcasing the innovative research being conducted by students all over Europe.We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and look forward to their contributions at the conference. To those who were not selected this time, we encourage you to continue your excellent work and apply again in the future.And the lucky winners are: &nbsp; &nbsp;<h5>Chromatography supports electrochemistry–mass spectrometry (EC-MS) analysis of olaparib and inavolisib metabolites</h5><ul><li>Fabiola Dontsi Tonleu, University of Münster, Germany&nbsp;</li><li>Abstract ID: ISC-0262 &nbsp; &nbsp;</li></ul><h5>Towards circular wind energy: Sample preparation strategies in combination with GC×GC-TOFMS for the characterization of wind turbine blade recycling products&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Giulia Giacoppo, University of Ferrara, Italy</li><li>Abstract ID: ISC-0169 &nbsp; &nbsp;</li></ul><h5>Implementing SFC for analysis of antibiotics in manure</h5><ul><li>Michelle Hussock, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany</li><li>Abstract ID: ISC-0220 &nbsp;</li></ul><h5>Identifying optimal LC-MS conditions for oligonucleotide mapping of mRNA: A multi-criteria assessment of methods</h5><ul><li>Athanasios Tsalmpouris, University of Geneva, Switzerland</li><li>Abstract ID: ISC-0211</li></ul><h5>From weeds to crop protectants: phytochemical profiling and dual biopesticidal activities of Chenopodium ambrosioides and Cleome gynandra &nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Rahim Ullah, University of Helsinki, Finland</li><li>Abstract ID: ISC-0249 &nbsp;</li></ul><h4>Poster Presentations</h4><h5>Optimal column selection for experimental surface polarity measurement using supercritical fluid chromatography</h5><ul><li>Yoshiyuki Watabe, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan</li><li>Session: BIO08 - Sample preparation and automation</li></ul><h5>Characterization of SFC stationary phases for Analysis of Essential Oils</h5><ul><li>Martin Meyer, Shimadzu Europa, Duisburg, Germany</li></ul><h5>High-sensitivity analysis of more than 100 pesticides in food using microflow LC-MS/MS</h5><ul><li>Ramy Abou Naccoul, Shimadzu France, Marne la Vallée, France</li><li>Session: HYP05 - Microfluidic and chip separations in MS</li></ul><h5>Streamlined selection of optimal separation conditions using an automated LC/SFC method development platform</h5><ul><li>Dr. Gesa Schad, Shimadzu Europa, Duisburg, Germany</li><li>Session: FUN05 - Separations with super - and sub-critical fluids</li></ul><h5>Ion Chromatographic Determination of Major Inorganic Ions in Beer for Quality Control and Product Differentiation</h5><ul><li>Dr. Vadim Kraft, Shimadzu Europa, Duisburg, Germany</li><li>Session: FUN08 - Separation modes</li></ul><h5>Efficient SFC Method Development for the Analysis of Essential Oils Using Shimadzu LabSolutions MD</h5><ul><li>Dr. Brigitte Bollig, Shimadzu Europa, Duisburg, Germany</li><li>Session: HYP02 - SFC-MS</li></ul><h5>Assessing the applicability of retention modelling as a tool for oligonucleotide analysis using ion-pair HPLC</h5><ul><li>Richard Hodgson, Shimadzu UK, Milton Keynes, UK</li></ul><h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/7477">ISC 2026 Scientific program</a> highlights</h3>The programme runs across three parallel tracks — Fundamentals, Bioanalysis &amp; Omics Applications, and Hyphenation Techniques — covering topics from column technology, chiral and multi-dimensional separations, and AI/machine learning in separation science, to proteomics, green analytical chemistry, and LC/MS data processing.<h4>Why it matters for industry</h4>This year's Industry Program is shaping up particularly well, giving companies a direct space to connect with academia and the next generation of scientists:<ul><li>Industry &amp; Education – bridging academic training with industry needs</li><li>Career Presentation – companies showcase career paths and hiring needs to students and professionals</li><li>AI in Separation Science – real-world use of AI in method development and lab workflows</li><li>Sustainability in Separation Science – translating green chemistry research into industrial practice</li></ul>

Shimadzu to Join ISC 2026 in Prague as Platinum Sponsor

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James Little/Mass Spec Interpretation Services

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Unexpected changes to our chromatography often lead us to suspect the column first. &nbsp; But, in many cases, the true source of the problem is somewhere else in the system. &nbsp;In this webinar, we’ll explore some of the common chromatography issues we most often hear about as technical support specialists. Whether you’re dealing with shifts in retention time, pressure fluctuations, unexpected peaks, ghost peaks, missing peaks, or your peak shapes just don’t look right, we’ll walk through practical steps for diagnosing and resolving the problem. Having an understanding for where issues typically occur can help us to quickly identify the problem, implement the right corrective action, and prevent the problem from recurring in the future.<blockquote>Speaker: Jean Lane (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)Jean has been employed with Agilent since Nov 2010 in technical and applications support and has a primary role supporting Agilent’s full line of LC columns and consumables, which also includes support for Agilent’s GPC/SEC product line. She came to Agilent thru acquisition of Varian and the former Polymer Laboratories. Jean has 20 plus years of technical and applications support for both HPLC and GPC consumable products. In addition to practical chromatography experience in the laboratory, she has had many, many years in her technical role involving customer support providing assistance and troubleshooting for customer chromatography issues.</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Becoming A Better Chromatographer Webinar Series

Why Your Column Isn’t Always the Culprit: Smarter HPLC Troubleshooting

Master HPLC troubleshooting with Agilent. Learn to diagnose retention shifts, pressure issues, and ghost peaks outside of the column environment

Smarter HPLC Troubleshooting: Beyond the Column Issues

<h4>What’s trending across Asia and what you should know next</h4>PFAS Asia Summit is back in 2026! Join us with leading experts across science and industry to explore the latest PFAS developments shaping Asia. From evolving regulatory frameworks to cutting-edge research and analytical innovation, this summit offers a focused platform to understand emerging risks, industry responses - helping you stay informed and prepared in a rapidly changing PFAS landscape.<h4>What you will learn:</h4><ul><li>Latest PFAS regulatory updates across global and Asian markets</li><li>Emerging PFAS trends in key industries, including agriculture, electronics, and pharmaceuticals</li><li>Advances in sample preparation and integrated LC-MS/MS technologies for PFAS detection and analysis</li></ul><h4>Agenda</h4><h5>09:00 - 09:05 a.m. Welcome &amp; Introduction</h5><h5>09:05 - 09:35 a.m. PFAS around the world - Regulatory and analytical trends</h5><ul><li>Holly Lee (SCIEX)</li></ul><h5>09:35 - 10:05 a.m. Utilizing LC-MS for proactive PFAS detection in Pharma</h5><ul><li>Eshani Galermo (SCIEX)</li></ul><h5>10:05 - 10:35 a.m. Advanced strategies in LC-MS/MS for clean-up and analysis of PFAS compounds in various sample matrices</h5><ul><li>Namrata Saxena (Phenomenex)</li></ul><h5>10:35 - 11:00 a.m. Behavior and metabolic effects of PFAS in wheat</h5><ul><li>Yanwei Zhang (China)<ul><li>*Speaking language: Chinese</li></ul></li></ul><h5>11:00 - 11:25 a.m. Standardization of IEC test methods for PFAS regulation compliance in the electrical, electronics, and automotive plastic industries</h5><ul><li>Jaehak Jung (Korea)<ul><li>*Speaking language: Korean</li></ul></li></ul><h5>11:25 - 11:55 a.m. Nontarget screening of PFAS transformation products during photoelectrochemical degradation of PFAS in water</h5><ul><li>Jheng-Sian, Yang (Taiwan)<ul><li>*Speaking language: Chinese</li></ul></li></ul><h5>11:55 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Q&amp;A</h5>*Sessions delivered in non-English languages will be supported with English subtitles.<blockquote>Speaker: Yanwei Zhang, Ph.D. (Associate Researcher, Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China)Speaker:&nbsp;Jaehak Jung, Ph.D. (Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Korea Institute of Analytical Science and Technology (KAIST), Republic of Korea)Speaker: Jheng-Sian Yang, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Taiwan)Speaker: Holly Lee (Staff Scientist, Global Technical Marketing, Food, SCIEX)Speaker: Eshani Galermo (Staff Scientist, Pharma/Biopharma Quant Lead, SCIEX)Speaker: Namrata Saxena (Technical Manager, Asia/Pacific, Phenomenex)Speaker: See Chung Yip (Field Application Manager, SCIEX)</blockquote>

PFAS Asia Summit 2026

Stay ahead of the changing PFAS landscape in Asia. Learn about evolving regulations, industry impacts, and cutting-edge LC-MS/MS analytical methods

PFAS Asia Summit 2026: Trends, Regulations & LC-MS/MS  

<div><h4>Minimizing QC Release Risk Through Molecule‑Specific Analytics in Empower™ CDS</h4>As MALS gains adoption in QC, many biopharmaceutical labs face a disconnect between absolute molecular measurements and confident lot‑release decisions. Reliance on relative SEC methods, manual calculations, and subjective interpretation can obscure risks related to aggregation, recovery, and molecular distribution - often emerging only during method transfer or regulatory review.In this webinar, we show how integrating QC‑ready MALS into an Empower™ workflow enables labs to quantify and manage release risk. Standardized calculations convert raw MALS data into objective, reviewable metrics - reducing analyst‑dependent interpretation and supporting defensible release decisions before risks become compliance issues.<h4>What will you learn?</h4><ul><li>Transition MALS from characterization to routine QC testing</li><li>Automate critical molecular metrics tied to release specifications</li><li>Improve consistency, traceability, and confidence in release decisions</li></ul><h4>Who should attend</h4><ul><li>QC Managers and Directors responsible for release testing</li><li>MSAT and Method Transfer teams moving methods into QC</li><li>Analytical Development scientists supporting late stage programs</li><li>Regulatory Affairs and Compliance professionals focused on audit readiness</li><li>Organizations working with proteins, peptides, biologics, or complex modalities where aggregation and heterogeneity impact release decisions</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Colette Quinn, Ph.D. (Light Scattering Portfolio Owner, Waters Corporation)Colette Quinn is a Sr. business development manager in the biopharmaceutical group at Waters Corporation. Her focus is around biophysical solutions and how to integrate biophysical and biochemical approaches to enable a “totality of evidence” based approach to problems.</blockquote><blockquote>Presenter: Neil Lander (Senior Principal Product Manager, Waters Corporation)Neil has worked for Waters Corporation since 1994 and has held a variety of positions including Technical Support Specialist, Technical Trainer, Manager Customer Education and currently, Senior Principal Product Manager focusing on Informatics solutions.He provides internal support for Empower Chromatography Data System and is focused on developing laboratory software solutions that help organizations achieve their scientific and operational objectives.</blockquote></div>

Waters Corporation: Reduce QC Release Risk with Molecule Specific Analytics: QC Ready MALS in Empower™ CDS

Reduce QC Release Risk with Molecule Specific Analytics: QC Ready MALS in Empower™ CDS

Reduce biopharma release risks by integrating MALS into Empower CDS. Automate molecular metrics, eliminate manual math, and secure audit readiness

Reduce QC Release Risk with Empower Integrated MALS

Discover how mass spectrometry imaging is expanding beyond molecular detection in this US HUPO webinar featuring experts discussing innovative imaging approaches and emerging biomedical applications.<blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Angela Kruse (Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University)Presenter: Dr. Yasmin Shanneik (Postdoctoral Associate Baylor College of Medicine)Moderator: Dr. Jessica MooreModerator: Dr. Colleen Crouch</blockquote>

US HUPO: Spatial Imaging Series: More Than Mass Spec

Spatial Imaging Series: More Than Mass Spec

Join the US HUPO webinar to explore advances in mass spectrometry imaging and innovative approaches beyond conventional MS analysis.

As materials become increasingly sophisticated, understanding their optical properties is essential for driving innovation, improving product performance, and ensuring quality. Whether developing anti-reflective coatings, optimising solar cell efficiency, designing specialty glass, or researching next-generation materials, accurate optical characterisation is a critical part of the workflow.Join us for this webinar to discover how the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer enables researchers and industry professionals to measure and characterise a broad range of optical properties across diverse sample types and applications.The webinar will showcase measurement techniques for transmission, reflectance, diffuse reflectance, and angular measurements, highlighting how the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR platform delivers reliable and reproducible data for both research and industrial applications.<h4>Why Attend?</h4>In this session, you will learn:<ul><li>How the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR can be used to characterise thin films, coatings, solar materials, and glass.</li><li>Techniques for measuring transmission, reflectance, and diffuse reflectance with confidence.</li><li>Methods for determining film thickness and evaluating optical performance.</li><li>How specialised accessories expand measurement capabilities for challenging samples.</li><li>Best practices for obtaining accurate, reproducible results across a variety of applications.</li><li>Real-world examples demonstrating how optical measurements can accelerate research and product development.</li></ul><h4>Who Should Attend?</h4>This webinar is designed for:<ul><li>Academic Researchers and Students<ul><li>Researchers in materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering.</li><li>Scientists investigating thin films, nanomaterials, optical materials, and photonic devices.</li><li>Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers seeking advanced optical characterisation techniques.</li></ul></li><li>Solar and Photovoltaics<ul><li>Scientists and engineers developing solar cells and photovoltaic materials.</li><li>Researchers evaluating anti-reflective coatings and light management strategies.</li><li>Teams working to improve solar cell efficiency through optical optimisation.</li></ul></li><li>Glass and Coatings Industries<ul><li>Manufacturers of architectural, automotive, and specialty glass.</li><li>Researchers developing low-emissivity and anti-reflective coatings.</li><li>Quality control and R&amp;D professionals responsible for optical performance testing.</li></ul></li><li>Advanced Materials and Industrial R&amp;D<ul><li>Thin film and semiconductor researchers.</li><li>Optical coating manufacturers.</li><li>Scientists working with displays, sensors, filters, and advanced functional materials.</li><li>Analytical laboratories requiring precise optical characterisation.</li></ul></li></ul><h5>Featured Applications</h5><ul><li>Thin film and multilayer coating analysis</li><li>Anti-reflective and optical coating characterisation</li><li>Solar cell and photovoltaic material evaluation</li><li>Optical filter transmission and blocking measurements</li><li>Architectural and specialty glass analysis</li><li>Reflectance measurements at varying angles of incidence</li><li>Film thickness determination</li><li>Diffuse reflectance measurements of scattering materials</li><li>Optical characterisation of emerging materials in academia and industry</li></ul>Discover how the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR platform combines exceptional optical performance, flexible sampling accessories, and intuitive workflows to provide the insights needed to advance research, optimise products, and solve challenging analytical problems.<blockquote>Presenter: Mr. Rajwar Chandra (Product Specialist - Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies)Chandra Rajwar is a Product &amp; Market Specialist with over 20 years of experience in Molecular Spectroscopy products and analytical instrumentation. He specializes in UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman, and related spectroscopy solutions, supporting customers with application development, workflow optimization, and analytical excellence across pharmaceutical, chemical, environmental, and research industries.</blockquote><blockquote>Presenter: Ms. Vijaya Jyothi (Product Specialist - Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.)Vijaya Jyothi is a seasoned product specialist at Agilent Technologies. She manages the spectroscopy division, having extensive expertise in spectroscopy applications across diverse industries, offering deep insights and solutions tailored to varied analytical needs.</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Characterising Advanced Materials with the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR - From Thin Films and Solar Cells to Glass and Optical Coatings

Characterising Advanced Materials with the Agilent UV-Vis-NIR: From Thin Films and Solar Cells to Glass and Optical Coatings

Characterize thin films, solar cells, and coatings with Agilent UV-Vis-NIR. Master reflectance, transmission, and angular measurement workflows

Materials Characterization with Agilent UV-Vis-NIR

<div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of persistent environmental contaminants that can accumulate in biological systems and pose potential risks to human and environmental health. Understanding how different PFAS structures behave within living organisms, including the distribution of individual isomers and their biological effects, remains a significant analytical challenge.In this webinar, researchers will demonstrate how matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization trapped ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry was used to differentiate PFAS isomers, analyze PFAS-exposed bacterial biomass, and investigate tissue-specific PFAS distribution in a mouse model.The session will also explore PFAS-associated changes to the hepatic lipidome, highlighting the potential of advanced mass spectrometry approaches for PFAS research.<h4>Attend this webinar to:</h4><ul><li>Understand advanced mass spectrometry approaches for PFAS detection, characterization, and isomer differentiation</li><li>Learn how spatial imaging techniques reveal the biological impact and tissue distribution of environmental contaminants</li><li>Explore emerging applications of spatial mass spectrometry for studying microplastics and other environmental pollutants</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: &nbsp;Elizabeth Neumann, PhD &nbsp;( Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis)&nbsp;Elizabeth Neumann is an assistant professor in the chemistry department at UC Davis. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular architecture behind complex human disorders, such as renal cell carcinoma, spina bifida and Alzheimer's Disease.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>Presenter: Autumn Qiu, PhD ( Assistant Professor, Michigan State University)&nbsp;Prof. Tian (Autumn) Qiu earned her Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Peking University and her PhD from the University of Minnesota. Autumn’s PhD studies focused on nanotoxicity mechanisms in environmental bacteria at the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology. She was a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and worked on D-amino acids in the microbiome-gut-brain axis. She joined Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor in 2022. Her lab investigates interactions among environmental contaminants, microbial metabolism, and host responses using mass spectrometry, particularly MALDI-MS, integrated with animal models and toxicological analyses.&nbsp;</blockquote></div>

Bruker: Unlocking New Insights Into PFAS Distribution and Biological Impact

Unlocking New Insights Into PFAS Distribution and Biological Impact

Explore advanced PFAS analysis with MALDI-TIMS-MS imaging. Discover how to differentiate isomers and investigate tissue-specific lipidome changes

Spatial PFAS Analysis: MALDI-TIMS-MS

<h4>By attending this presentation you will:</h4><ul><li>Explore a range of chromatographic separation modes for Bicycle® molecules and their impurities.</li><li>Gain practical insights into the identification and characterization of impurities and degradation products.</li><li>Learn a systematic approach to developing effective separation methods.</li><li>Recognize best practices for optimizing separations to support analytical development and stability studies.</li></ul><h4>Event Overview</h4>Bicycle® molecules are novel medium molecules and provide a unique set of challenges to separate and identify impurities and degradants. They are fully synthetic, short peptides that loop together into two constrained rings. This unique bicyclic shape allows them to mimic the target-binding capabilities of large antibodies while retaining the rapid tissue penetration and manufacturing advantages of small molecules.The presentation covers a broad approach to achieving separation with Bicycle® molecules and will touch on a large range of separation modes.<blockquote>Speaker: Andrew Feilden (Senior Director, Analytical Sciences, Bicycle Therapeutics)Dr Feilden joined Bicycle in October 2022 where he leads the CMC analytical science team. &nbsp;He has over 25 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry having worked for both CROs and large pharma. &nbsp;His area of work has been around trace analysis and he is an expert in extractables and leachables. &nbsp;He completed his degree and DPhil at the University of York.</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Analysis of Bicycle® Molecules - Novel Medium Molecules

Analysis of Bicycle® Molecules: Novel Medium Molecules

Explore chromatographic separation modes for Bicycle® peptides. Learn systematic method development to analyze impurities and degradants

Analyzing Bicycle® Molecules: Separation & Impurities

<h4>LC Coffee Breaks Free Webinar Series</h4>Each episode focuses on answering a specific challenge faced by chromatographers, helping you improve efficiency, solve problems faster, and stay up to date with the latest trends in Liquid Chromatography.<h4>Episode 1</h4><h5>Mastering Overpressure - Prevention and Solutions that Work</h5><h4>What will you learn</h4><ul><li>Overpressure is a common LC challenge that can lead to downtime and unreliable results. Learn or review how to:</li><li>Identify key causes and solve them</li><li>Prevent issues in practical ways</li></ul><h4>Why you should attend</h4>Get practical, users insights you can immediately apply in your daily LC laboratory work.&nbsp; In just a short coffee-break session, you'll gain valuable tips on troubleshooting, method development, method transfer, technology updates, column chemistries, and real-world applications.<blockquote>Speaker: Walter Migliaccio (Sales Application Chemist, Waters)</blockquote>

LC Coffee Breaks: Mastering Overpressure - Prevention and Solutions that Work

Learn how to identify, solve, and prevent LC system overpressure. Join Waters' short webinar to eliminate downtime and keep your analysis running

Mastering Overpressure - Prevention and Solutions

<h4>Key Learning Points</h4><ul><li>Understand how to improve resolution with different stationary phases and mobile phase selectivity.&nbsp;</li><li>Learn key method development strategies for unknowns and complex mixtures.</li><li>Build LC methods that are reproducible, rugged, and transferable.</li><li>Review real examples of how to separate difficult compound classes.</li></ul><h4>Who Should Attend</h4><ul><li>Any LC users who want practical strategies for method development and optimization, or scientists who struggle with method reproducibility, ruggedness, or robustness.</li></ul><h4>One webinar, two viewing options</h4>We know you're busy, select a viewing session that works best for you.<h5>Viewing Options</h5>Session 1<ul><li>Tuesday, August 11, 2026</li><li>Los Angeles: 10:00 AM PT | New York: 1:00 PM EST</li><li>Mexico City: 12:00 PM CDT</li></ul>Session 2<ul><li>Wednesday, &nbsp;August 12, 2026</li><li>London: 9:00 AM BST | Berlin: 10:00 AM CEST&nbsp;</li><li>Mumbai: 1:30 PM IST</li></ul><blockquote>Speaker: Grace Guo (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)&nbsp;Grace Guo graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering. She joined Phenomenex Technical Team in 2017 providing technical support globally. With more than 9 years of experience in SPE, HPLC and GC, she delivered 90+ seminars and webinars globally covering food and environmental, clinical, pharma and biopharma industry.&nbsp;</blockquote>

Phenomenex: Unknowns Uncovered - Smart LC Strategies That Work

Unknowns Uncovered: Smart LC Strategies That Work

Master smart LC method development for unknown compounds. Learn Phenomenex strategies for better resolution, stationary phase selectivity, and ruggedness

Smart LC Strategies That Work

Therapeutic peptides are a fast-growing pharmaceutical drug class, but they present unique analytical challenges due to closely related process impurities, degradation products, and higher-order aggregate species. This webinar shows how complementary chromatographic workflows can be used to address those challenges, with examples spanning assay, related substances, stability-indicating analysis, and aggregate assessment. Real-world applications will cover aggregation profiles of key GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide.<h4>Key Learning Points</h4><ul><li>Understand the main analytical challenges involved in therapeutic peptide characterization, including closely related impurities, degradation products, and aggregate species.</li><li>Describe where reversed-phase chromatography and size exclusion chromatography fit across therapeutic peptide development workflows.&nbsp;</li><li>Learn how different reversed-phase selectivities were used for semaglutide assay, related substances, and stability/degradant studies, and understand how similar workflows can be adapted for other GLP-1 analogs, including tirzepatide.</li></ul><h4>Who Should Attend</h4><ul><li>Any liquid chromatography users working with, or interested in analyzing peptide therapeutics by HPLC. &nbsp;</li></ul><blockquote>Speaker: Sean Orlowicz (Principal Market Development Manager, Phenomenex)Sean Orlowicz has been working in the field of analytical chemistry for over 23yrs. After receiving his degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he started his career in large scale synthesis, using HPLC and GC techniques in reaction monitoring and purification. Sean took this experience to Phenomenex in 2003, working on site with clients worldwide on method development, troubleshooting and method transfer. Sean explored instrumentation for a few years, growing to specialize in LCMS, before returning to Phenomenex to help build and manage Phenomenex’s new applications laboratory. Since then, Sean has been driving innovation and growth though Business Development efforts, and most recently, in 2025 Sean has taken a Market Development Management role, spearheading our global efforts in Pharmaceuticals.&nbsp;</blockquote>

GLP-1: Assay to Aggregates

Master GLP-1 peptide analysis (semaglutide, tirzepatide). Discover RP-HPLC and SEC workflows for assay, related substances, degradation, and aggregates