In forensic toxicology, understanding what is in a sample and how much of it is there, quickly, accurately, and confidently, can make all the difference. Whether it is an overdose investigation, a sudden death case, or surveillance for emerging public health risks, laboratories are under pressure to deliver high-quality results with tighter turnaround times and broader analytical scope.That is where high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?category=134&amp;manufacturerItems=3">Orbitrap mass spectrometry</a> really shines, especially when paired with streamlined workflows and intelligent data analysis.<h3>What’s new?</h3>A recent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/tn_002551_cl_phsa_orbitrap_forensic_tn002551_na_en_a34276b79b.pdf">Technical Note (TN-002551) </a>details a rapid LC-HRAM-Orbitrap method developed collaboratively with the B.C. Provincial Toxicology Centre for postmortem blood analysis. This workflow was designed to deliver routine screening and quantitation while also enabling retrospective data mining to identify unknown or emerging compounds in circulation.Here is what makes this approach compelling:<ul><li>High sensitivity and resolution: The Thermo Scientific Q Exactive HF hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap system enables faster scan speeds and precise mass measurement, which boosts confidence in detecting drugs, even at low levels, in complex postmortem matrices.</li><li>Robust routine productivity: Running routine screens in approximately 12.5 minutes significantly speeds workflow throughput, which is critical as labs face growing caseloads.</li><li>Retrospective analysis: One of the biggest advantages of HRAM data is the ability to re-interrogate stored data files for novel psychoactive substances after the initial screen is complete. This capability eliminates the need to re-run samples, saving time and preserving limited sample material.</li></ul>A standout example from the technical note was the identification of bromazolam, a designer benzodiazepine that was not part of the original routine panel. Through retrospective analysis, its prevalence in postmortem cases was revealed and quantified, demonstrating the real-world value of full-scan HRAM data.<h5>Supporting broad drug panels</h5>As highlighted in a previous THC tips and tricks blog post, cannabinoids and their metabolites can be challenging when analyzed alongside other drugs of abuse. HRAM MS improves selectivity and confidence when multiple drug classes are analyzed together, making it easier to integrate THC and related compounds into comprehensive toxicology workflows.<h5>Why this matters for forensic toxicology today</h5>The opioid crisis, the continued emergence of novel psychoactive substances, and evolving public health threats demand analytical tools that are both robust and adaptable. HRAM Orbitrap LC-MS not only improves detection and quantitation across a wide range of drugs of abuse, but also enables:<ul><li>Retrospective discovery of unknown compounds</li><li>Faster delivery of actionable results to coroners and public health agencies</li><li>Improved surveillance of emerging drug trends</li></ul>As toxicology laboratories look to future-proof their operations, combining powerful instrumentation, intelligent software, and optimized workflows will be key. Methods like those described in TN-002551 demonstrate how HRAM Orbitrap mass spectrometry continues to elevate forensic toxicology workflows.<h3>Resources</h3><ul><li>Featured technical note: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/tn_002551_cl_phsa_orbitrap_forensic_tn002551_na_en_a34276b79b.pdf">Rapid, high-resolution postmortem toxicology analysis using Orbitrap mass spectrometry</a></li><li>Previous blogs in this series:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6189">Sample Preparation Strategies for Toxicology Workflows</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6587">Beyond Blood: HRAM-Powered Postmortem Toxicology at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6860">Advancing Drug Analysis with VeriSpray PaperSpray Mass Spectrometry</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6953">Boosting Productivity in Toxicology Labs</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/7190">Behind the Bench: Tips to Simultaneously Analyze THC, Its Metabolites, and Other Drugs of Abuse</a></li></ul></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/forensics/forensic-toxicology.html">Forensic toxicology webpage</a></li><li><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">Affordability resources</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;#PostmortemAnalysis #HRAMOrbitrapMS #ForensicToxicology #NPS</blockquote>

Sharper, Faster, Smarter: HRAM Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Meets Postmortem Toxicology

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming free online webinar on June 11, 2026 focused on one of the most pressing challenges in environmental monitoring and water quality management — PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances).As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve and compliance deadlines approach, laboratories, water utilities, and environmental professionals need robust, reliable, and cutting-edge analytical solutions to stay ahead.<blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/91d97003-fe33-4dca-b80b-160d9f8a5655@485ca04e-6f74-4050-9764-cdb4bfa89c25">Registration HERE</a></blockquote><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ALS_analyzy_PFAS_a9e4a87fbc.jpg" alt="ALS: Advanced PFAS Analytical Services " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ALS_analyzy_PFAS_a9e4a87fbc.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="600" height="336"><h4>🎤 Our Speaker</h4>The webinar will be hosted by Jana Kováčová, Ph.D., PFAS Regional Lead for Continental Europe Environmental Division, who has dedicated the last several years to the field of PFAS analysis and determination in ALS laboratories. Jana is a recognized expert in PFAS environmental analytics and will share practical insights and the latest developments in analytical strategies to help your organization achieve and maintain compliance.<h4>🎯 What You Will Learn</h4><ul><li>Latest regulatory developments and compliance requirements for PFAS in water, including EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 and its implications for water suppliers and laboratories.</li><li>Regulatory updates for surface water and groundwater — what's new and what to expect next.</li><li>Overview of advanced analytical strategies for PFAS detection and quantification in water matrices and how we analyse PFAS samples.</li><li>Key analytical challenges associated with PFAS testing — from ultra-trace detection to matrix interferences and contamination control.</li><li>The critical importance of using tested sampling containers and sample preservation to ensure reliable results.</li><li>Illustrative examples of results from real-world PFAS water analyses.</li><li>How ALS can support your needs with accredited PFAS testing services.</li></ul><h4>👥 Who Should Attend</h4>This webinar is designed for our clients, professionals, laboratory and technical staff, scientists, as well as anyone with an interest in analytical chemistry who wants to better understand the occurrence of these "forever chemicals" in the environment. &nbsp;<h4>💬 Q&amp;A Session</h4>There will be a live Q&amp;A session at the end of the webinar. You are welcome to submit your questions in advance during registration or ask them live on the day.<h4>📅 Additional Webinar Info:</h4><ul><li>Platform: Microsoft Teams (online)</li><li>Time: 10:00 CEST</li><li>Language: English</li><li>Duration: approx. 45 - 60 minutes (incl. Q&amp;A) Extras: If you are unable to attend on the day, please register and we will provide you with the recording of the webinar.</li></ul><h4>🔬 About ALS Environmental</h4>ALS is a global leader in environmental testing and analytical services, providing accredited PFAS analysis to clients across Europe and beyond. Our dedicated PFAS experts help clients navigate the complex regulatory landscape with confidence.<blockquote>For further information, please contact us on: marketing.cz@alsglobal.com</blockquote>We look forward to welcoming you to this important discussion on PFAS compliance in water.

Invitation to the ALS Webinar PFAS in Water 2026: Achieving Compliance through Advanced Analytical Strategies

ISC 2026 Keynote Lectures

Article

Events

Webinars

Video

Scientists

Water

Toxicology

Science and research

For more than 40 years, ALS has provided testing and technical solutions to clients all over the world in a wide range of industries. We have built our global reputation by embracing the latest technologies and innovative methodologies to deliver high quality testing services to clients. ALS is able to leverage a multifaceted international team while remaining agile enough to provide local expertise and personalized solutions to every one of our clients.

ALS Czech Republic

A unique company dedicated to serving science helping our customers drive productivity and accelerate results. Through our premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

The International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) represents the oldest conference series focussing on separation science. ISC symposia have been organised since 1956 in each even year. ISC is internationally recognised as one of the premier meeting series for discussion of all modes of chromatography and separation science with a broad coverage of techniques and applications.

International Symposium on Chromatography - (ISC)

Technology Networks

Phenomenex

SCIEX

Waters Corporation

Join us for an exclusive two-day event where Agilent will showcase cutting-edge biopharma solutions.
The first day of the event we will explore Agilent’s comprehensive portfolio for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics and cell and gene therapies
The second day will focus on advanced analytical solutions, including HRMS for tRNA sequencing and LC/MS for DNA/RNA analysis. Learn how to scale up oligonucleotide purification with Agilent biocolumns, which enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your processes.
By attending this event you will:
<ul>
<li>Gain insights from Agilent to optimize biotherapeutic workflows, including rigorous quality testing in cGMP environments and handling nucleic acid, vaccines, mAB and protein samples.
</li>
<li>Understand how metabolic analyses can impact CAR cell function and behavior, using cytolytic cell killing assays on the xCELLigence system to develop cell therapy processes and confirm product potency.
</li>
<li>Learn about new techniques in high-resolution LC/MS for analyzing tRNA modifications.
</li>
<li>Discover software tools available for high-resolution MS systems in both research and QA/QC labs.
</li>
<li>Compare analytical and semipreparative LC purification methods for synthetic oligonucleotides, gaining competitive insights into purification strategies.
</li>
</ul>
<h5>Talk 1: Agilent Tools and Technologies to Drive Advancements in Biopharmaceutical Drug Development</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Hervé Chaulet, Molecular and Biological Research Market Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
Discovering, developing, and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals requires you to stay abreast of advances in knowledge and improvements in technology while constantly navigating a maze of business and scientific challenges. Agilent can be a trusted partner providing expertise and end-to-end workflows including systems, software, consumables, and services for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics, and cell and gene therapies.
<h5>Talk 2: Quality Control In IVT mRNA Therapeutics and Vaccine Development Workflow Using The Agilent Fragment Analyzer System</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Leslie Friedmann, Product Manager, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
Reliable and robust analysis is essential throughout in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA workflows, providing important quality information to help minimize risk and aid in the production of a consistent product. The Agilent Fragment Analyzer systems can be used for several QC steps at different checkpoints in mRNA vaccine development, providing accurate and precise sizing and integrity analysis. These QC steps are to determine the quality and size of the linearized plasmid, the size and purity of the IVT mRNA, length of the poly(A) tail, and purity of the final mRNA vaccine product.
<h5>Talk 3: Analysis of NIST mAb Reference Material by Parallel SDS-Capillary Electrophoresis</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Kyle Luttgeharm, Product Manager, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
Monoclonal antibody drug products are complex biomolecules that must be tested for critical quality attributes (CQAs) such as monomeric purity and percent glycosylation. Capillary gel electrophoresis methods have been adopted as the standard method for size heterogeneity characterization, however legacy capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods involve complicated workflows or are cost prohibitive. To address these problems with legacy methods, Agilent has developed a 12-channel, parallel capillary electrophoresis-SDS (CE-SDS) instrument and reagents. The system uses a high-resolution sieving gel, allowing for resolution of mAb species including the non-glycosylated heavy chain and light chain. To demonstrate the capabilities of the ProteoAnalyzer, the NIST mAb was characterized under both reduced and non-reduced conditions and compared to the NIST data sheet.
<h5>Talk 4: Advanced Analytics for Cell Therapy Research, Process Development, and Manufacturing</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Kelly Kroeger, Science &amp; Technology Advisor, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
With immunology and immune-based therapies rising as a pillar of science and therapeutics, we are seeing a foundational shift from targeting specific proteins and pathways to actually targeting the immune cellular network that resolves and prevents disease. Therefore there is a critical need for cell analysis tools to facilitate understanding of the dynamic nature of the interaction of these cellular networks whether it is in the context of immune cells or immune cells with cancer cells.
To address these new challenges, we at Agilent Technologies have developed a portfolio of cell analysis solutions that provide researchers with more relevant tools to measure living cells, dynamically track them, and model their microenvironments. These next-generation therapies require methods and technologies to enable assessment of real-time cell function, phenotype, and fate. Used together, the Agilent tool bench provides the capability to measure and develop immune cell function more effectively, thus enabling translational researchers and developers to achieve the necessary level of potential therapeutic potency and safety.

Technology Networks: Biopharma Innovations Summit

Biopharma Innovations Summit Day 1

Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development.

Join us for an exclusive two-day event where Agilent will showcase cutting-edge biopharma solutions.
The first day of the event we will explore Agilent’s comprehensive portfolio for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics and cell and gene therapies
The second day will focus on advanced analytical solutions, including HRMS for tRNA sequencing and LC/MS for DNA/RNA analysis. Learn how to scale up oligonucleotide purification with Agilent biocolumns, which enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your processes.
By attending this event you will:
<ul>
<li>Gain insights from Agilent to optimize biotherapeutic workflows, including rigorous quality testing in cGMP environments and handling nucleic acid, vaccines, mAB and protein samples.
</li>
<li>Understand how metabolic analyses can impact CAR cell function and behavior, using cytolytic cell killing assays on the xCELLigence system to develop cell therapy processes and confirm product potency.
</li>
<li>Learn about new techniques in high-resolution LC/MS for analyzing tRNA modifications.
</li>
<li>Discover software tools available for high-resolution MS systems in both research and QA/QC labs.
</li>
<li>Compare analytical and semipreparative LC purification methods for synthetic oligonucleotides, gaining competitive insights into purification strategies.
</li>
</ul>
<h5>Talk 1: Advanced Analytical Solutions for Nucleic Acid Analysis and Purification</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Charlotte Lekieffre, Biopharma Application Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
The emphasis during the second day of the Summit will be on advanced analytical solutions, such as HRMS for tRNA sequencing and LC/MS for DNA/RNA analysis. Additionally, you’ll discover techniques to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your processes by scaling up oligonucleotide purification using Agilent biocolumns. 
<h5>Talk 2: Extracted Yeast tRNA Sequencing by LC-MS/MS</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Aurore Attina, Engineer of Mass Spectrometry, University of Montpellier</li>
</ul>
RNA modifications are essential for RNA stability, maturation, and functionality; directly influencing protein translation and gene regulation. They play a central role in various biological processes and are associated with many diseases, including cancers and neurological disorders. tRNA (transfer RNA), which plays a key role in protein synthesis, is the most modified molecule in the organism known to date. tRNA modifications are essential to ensure their correct function in protein translation, maintain the accuracy and fidelity of the genetic code, and enable flexible adaptation to changing cellular conditions and are therefore a crucial attribute to monitor. To monitor and map these modifications of tRNA, we have developed a LC-HRMS analytical workflow, first using synthetic oligonucleotide for the method optimization. In this webinar, we will first go through the various steps involved in LC-MS/MS method optimization using synthetic oligonucleotides. In a second part, we will present the protocol development of an enzymatic digestion applied to tRNA extracted from yeast. This digestion generates oligonucleotide fragments that can be analyzed by LC-MS/MS for sequence confirmation.
<h5>Talk 3: Discover Agilent’s Software Tools to Confirm Oligonucleotide Sequence Integrity</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Holger Stalz, LC/MS Product Specialist Austria &amp; Switzerland, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
Mass spectrometry (MS) is increasingly important for the development of therapeutic modalities such as oligonucleotides. A common analytical method for large molecules is intact mass by LC/MS. This can be used for the characterization and identification of a product or process-related impurities, or simply as a confirmation of molecular weight. The newly introduced Agilent OpenLab CDS 2.8 SW version comes with a set of features to enable the automatization of biopharma workflows. If you want to know how LC/MSD Spectral Deconvolution of your biopharma samples can be automated, we will provide answers during our presentation. Even more details on Oligonucleotide sequence confirmation and impurities characterization can be acquired using the power of a high-resolution accurate mass system (HRAM) on the Agilent 6545XT AdvanceBio LC/Q-TOF. Analyzing the sample data with the software workflows in Agilent BioConfirm version 12 will support the user to get the trusted answers to their most relevant questions.
<h5>Talk 4 Maximize Your Resources and Simplify Scale-up with AdvanceBio Oligonucleotide Columns</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Andrea Tripodi, Application Development Engineer, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
Several classes of nucleic acids, such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and aptamers are being investigated for potential therapeutic applications. Synthetic oligonucleotides inevitably contain many impurities due to limitations in the efficiency of each chemical reaction used during manufacture. They include deletion sequences (missing one or more nucleotides) and reaction by-products often arising during the final deprotection or cleavage steps. Ion pair reversed-phase (IP-RP) chromatography stands out as the prevalent method for analyzing and purifying oligonucleotides. For increased resolution and separation of your full-length synthetic oligonucleotide from closely related impurities, AdvanceBio Oligonucleotide is the ideal choice. The latest developments include semi-preparative, and lab-scale preparative columns packed with superficially porous particles that provide excellent performance and resolution without compromising column loading. A fast and easy scale-up method from analytical to semi-preparative scale was successfully achieved using a 10 mm ID column enabling higher sample loading using the same analytical LC instrument.

Biopharma Innovations Summit Day 2

Day one: Innovation and data insights<ul><li>Discover how to achieve high sensitivity, speed, and resilience when working with large, complex sample sets</li><li>Learn strategies to speed up your covalent protein drug discovery</li><li>Gain insights into accelerating the development of multiple modalities</li><li>Understand the latest advancements in quantitative proteomics with ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Overcome limitations with cutting-edge artificial intelligence quantitation software</li></ul>Agenda-at-a-glanceWelcome and introduction to innovation and data insights&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Advancing robustness and serviceability of a high-end triple quad mass spectrometer in a high-throughput bioanalytical lab<ul><li>Highly sensitive mass spectrometers allow the advanced bioanalytical labs of today to achieve the LOQ required of potent biologic drugs and provide maximum flexibility in choice of sample prep techniques. However robust mass spectrometers are crucial for several reasons:<ul><li>Aid in ensuring the consistent quantitative performance of an assay</li><li>Effectively allow a lab to meet their project timelines</li><li>Are essential for handling the inherent variability of analyzing diverse molecules and diverse samples required for bioanalysis</li></ul></li></ul>The new fast in drug discovery: a new MS system to study covalent protein drugs<ul><li>The combination of a super-fast sampling interface with the highly sensitive ZenoTOF 7600 system makes it an ideal system for evaluating covalent binding screens. Main findings in our experiments using the Echo® MS+ system:<ul><li>Speed: measurements from a full 384-well plate in 15 min or 1536-well plate in less than one hour</li><li>Precision: low injection volume supports repetitive measurements and time series; capture full kinetic data set in one experiment</li><li>Quality: high data quality allows for full automated processing, delivering immediate hitlist output</li></ul></li></ul>icIEF-UV/MS characterization of charge Isoforms for biotherapeutic products<ul><li>Characterization of icIEF charge isoforms, whether in early product development or associated with licensure filings, is usually achieved through ion exchange (IEX) liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. icIEF-MS technology has recently emerged to enable the direct characterization of specific species in the icIEF electropherogram, eliminating the need for extensive method development.<ul><li>Discover opportunities to advance core platform technologies with novel characterization approaches</li><li>Hear case studies on understanding molecular structure information</li><li>New approaches to characterizing post-translational modifications of charge isoforms</li></ul></li></ul>Expanding qualitative and quantitative sensitivity for immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA<ul><li>Learn how utilizing a research-grade Zeno-trap time-of-flight LC-MS system can advance current applications in immunopeptidomics and proteomics, including:<ul><li>What is ZT Scan DIA, the technology and how it benefits data acquisition</li><li>Preliminary proteomics and immunopeptidomics results using ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Future applications of immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA</li></ul></li></ul>Artificial intelligence quantitation (AI quant): molecular structure and mass spectral data quality driven processing of high-resolution mass spectrometry for quantitative analysi<ul><li>High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has long sought to be a viable alternative for quantitative workflows but has been unable to broadly compete, mainly due to the lack of suitable data processing software. In this work we describe:<ul><li>A molecular structure-dependent workflow</li><li>The holistic and user-independent processesing of HRMS data</li><li>The automatic quantification of small drug-like molecules</li></ul></li></ul>Q&amp;A roundtable: innovation and data insights with the experts<ul><li>Moderated by: Jamie Wighton, Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX</li><li>Panelists include:<ul><li>Rathna Veeramachaneni, Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bio</li><li>Xiaping He, Senior Scientist, Pfizer</li><li>Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research</li><li>Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash University&nbsp;</li><li>Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</li></ul></li></ul><blockquote>Moderator: Jamie Wighton (Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX)Jamie joined SCIEX 20 years ago and has held multiple technical and leadership roles throughout his career at SCIEX. &nbsp;Starting out as an engineer in manufacturing operations, Jamie has since led teams in supply chain, product development, and most recently the research and product applications teams within R&amp;D. Prior to joining SCIEX, Jamie worked at JDS Uniphase as an optical test engineer.Jamie holds a B.Sc. in engineering physics from Queen’s University.Presenter: Rathna Veeramachaneni (Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bioanalytical)Presenter: Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical ResearchPresenter: Xiaoping He, Senior Scientst, PfizerPresenter: Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash UniversityPresenter: Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</blockquote>

SCIEX summit Day one: Innovation and data insights

Importance of LC-MS in food and environmental testing, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical discovery and development and biomedical and omics research.

Day two: Characterization and discovery<ul><li>Characterize and quantify calreticulin (CALR) arginylation using electron-activated top-down proteomics</li><li>Achieve in-depth profiling of metabolites and lipids in biological samples</li><li>Obtain accurate and reliable metabolite identification using electron-based fragmentation (EAD)</li><li>Detect trace amounts of pesticide residues in food by targeted and non-targeted, IDA and SWATH approaches</li><li>Enhance routine characterization of low-abundant sequence variant (SV) through fast and sensitive EAD-DDA</li></ul><h5>Agenda-at-a-glance</h5>Welcome and introduction to characterization and discoveryTop-down characterization of post-translational arginylation using electron activated dissociation (EAD)<ul><li>Learn about our top-down proteomics workflow for the characterization and quantification of calreticulin (CALR) arginylation. MS1 profile and MS2 fragmentation were characterized by EAD. Preferential fragmentation at the CALR N-terminals yielded sufficient c ions facilitating precise localization of the arginylation sites. Learn about:<ul><li>Arginylation regulates CALR degradation and ER function</li><li>EAD is efficient in characterizing N-terminal arginylation</li><li>The workflow sets up the foundation for unbiased top-down activity-based arginylation profiling</li></ul></li></ul>In-depth metabolomics and lipidomics analyses<ul><li>Routine measurement of metabolites and lipids has become a cornerstone of biomedical research. At the MPC, Helmholtz Munich, non-targeted analysis is based on the SCIEX ZenoTOF 7600 for accurate and in-depth analysis and annotation of metabolites and lipids from different biological specimens.<ul><li>Application of Zeno trap enabled non-targeted workflows to large scale metabolomics and lipidomics studies</li><li>Enhanced sensitivity enables deeper profiling of biological samples</li><li>Increased confidence in identifications through comprehensive structural elucidation using Electron activated dissociation (EAD)</li></ul></li></ul>MetID innovations in pharma: exploring new avenues for metabolite structure elucidationTime-of-flight mass spectrometry applications in food science: targeted and non-targeted approaches<ul><li>Time-of-flight mass spectrometry has become a key tool in analytical laboratories involved in food analyses. This instrumentation can be used for both targeted and non-targeted approaches. In this presentation, we will discuss:<ul><li>Overview of practical targeted and non-targeted approaches in food analysis</li><li>Application of a SWATH® approach to the analysis of pesticide residues in food</li><li>Application of IDA approaches in non-targeted food analyses</li></ul></li></ul>Reduce risk and accelerate cell line development with iCIEF-UV/MS technology<ul><li>Guide decisions during cell line development with the Intabio ZT system with more information on how process changes affect cell line and product stability. &nbsp;<ul><li>How to utilize icIEF-UV/MS to identify sequence variants</li><li>How this information can be used to create a mitigation strategy</li><li>What more information in less time means to groups throughout process development</li></ul></li></ul>Q&amp;A roundtable: A deeper look at high-resolution mass spectrometry<ul><li>Moderated by: ose Castro-Perez, Vice President of Product Management, SCIEX</li><li>Panelists include:<ul><li>Tom Lin, Instructor, Washington University in St. Louis</li><li>Michael Witting, Deputy Head Metabolomics and Proteomics Core and Executive Manager Metabolomics, Helmholtz Munich</li><li>Francisco José Díaz-Galiano, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Almería</li><li>Kirsten Nields, Principal Scientist, J&amp;J Innovative Medicines</li><li>Tatjana Talamantes, Senior Product Manager, Accurate Mass, SCIEX</li></ul></li></ul><blockquote>Moderator: Tatjana Talamantes, Senior Product Manager, Accurate Mass, SCIEXTatjana is a Senior Product Manager at SCIEX, overseeing accurate mass systems since 2021. She collaborates with R&amp;D, sales, and marketing teams to ensure effective project execution and portfolio management.Previously, Tatjana was a Product Manager at MOBILion Systems, leading the pre-commercialization of SLIM-based ion mobility instruments. She also has held roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific as a Sr. Vertical Marketing Specialist and Sr. Field Applications Scientist.Tatjana holds a B.A. in chemistry from Austin College and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and biochemistry from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.Jamie holds a B.Sc. in engineering physics from Queen’s University.Presenter: Tom Lin, Instructor, Washington University in St. LouisPresenter: Michael Witting, Deputy Head Metabolomics and Proteomics Core and Executive Manager Metabolomics, Helmholtz MunichPresenter: Francisco José Díaz-Galiano, Postdoctoral researcher, University of AlmeríaPresenter: Kirsten Nields, Principal Scientist, J&amp;J Innovative MedicinesPresenter: Tatjana Talamantes, Senior Product Manager, Accurate Mass, SCIEX</blockquote>

SCIEX summit Day two: Characterization and discovery

CIEX summit Day two: Characterization and discovery

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #3: Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS) | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 3</h3>Suspect and non-target screening (NTS) are crucial techniques used in various fields, including food analysis, environmental studies, toxicology, and doping analysis. In this overview, we’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening. Topics covered include resolution, accurate mass data, and ion mobility.In an ideal scenario, Suspect screening and non-Target screening are closely interconnected. Prior knowledge about a potential analyte (Suspect) can expedite the non-Target screening process. We’ll briefly explore Suspect screening and how high-resolution mass spectrometry offers identification criteria for confidently identifying suspect compounds.Further, we examine the data gathered for non-target compounds through high-resolution mass spectrometry. In this module we give a concise introduction to the valuable data that can be compiled for assigning structures. In the forthcoming module 4b we will delve into how this data, in conjunction with the tools offered by the waters_connect software, can be conveniently accessed by the user and provide more comprehensive insights.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>What is Screening? (Target/ Suspect &amp; Non-Target Screening)</li><li>Basics of HRMS (Resolution and accurate mass)</li><li>Identification criteria for Targets /Suspects &amp; UNIFI Scientific Library</li><li>Tools for Non-Target Screening</li><li>Short introduction of exemplary instrument types</li><li>Xevo G3 QToF for Routine Screening</li><li>Xevo MRT for Screening with very high-resolution and very high mass accuracy</li><li>Select Series Cyclic IMS for Screening with ion-mobility utilizing CCS-values</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.Presenter:&nbsp;Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School

Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS)

We’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening.

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #4: Chromatography - APGC | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 4</h3>Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (Atmospheric Pressure GC/ APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the APGC technology and its operational principles. Explore why APGC offers higher sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness compared to traditional EI methods. Maximize versatility and efficiency by understanding how to achieve both LC and GC capabilities on the same MS system as well as using nitrogen as an alternative carrier gas.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>How APGC works</li><li>Enhanced performance over classic EI-GC</li><li>Ease of use and implementation in the lab</li><li>Usage of nitrogen as GC carrier gas</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Frank L. Dorman, PhD, FRSC (Principal Environmental Market Manager, Waters Corporation)Frank Dorman is currently Senior Business Development Manager for Waters focusing on their global environmental business and, concurrently, Associate Professor (adjunct) in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) at Penn State University in University Park, PA. In his role at Waters, Frank manages the research-focused environmental market, external collaborations and also interfaces with R&amp;D for new product development. Prior to Waters, Frank was employed full-time as a tenure-line Faculty member of Penn State and served as a member of the Graduate Faculty in: Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB), Chemistry (CHEM) and the Programs in Forensics Science (FRNSC), and Biogeochemistry (BGC). Frank is also a member of the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis at Penn State. Frank’s scientific interests are in gas and liquid chromatography fundamental characterization, instrumentation and column development, as well and mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy as applied to trace analysis in complex sample matrices. This work is directed towards environmental forensics, traditional forensic chemistry and where environmental exposure events may contribute to human disease; an area sometimes referred to as “exposomics”.Prior to joining the faculty at PSU, Frank was at Restek Corporation for 14 years as the Director of Technical Development, and R&amp;D Senior Chemist. During most of this same time, Frank was also an Adjunct Research Professor at Juniata College where he maintained an active undergraduate research program. Prior to that he was at Inchcape Testing Services for 5 years as a Senior Chemist, Organics Section Manager for Sample Preparation and Corporate Methods Development Chemist. As such, Frank has extensive experience in both the Industrial and Academic sectors giving him a relatively rare combination of skills and experience.Presenter:&nbsp;Janitha De-Alwis (Senior Applications Chemist, European Applications Team, Food and Environmental, Waters Corporation)JD has worked in the chromatography industry for over 10 years and has recently joined Waters Corporation as a senior applications chemist. Prior to joining Waters, JD managed a group at a leading food research and contract organisation. Here, JD helped the food, drink and associated industriesproactivelyand reactively in the area of chemical toxins.As a senior applications chemist, JD now develops new applications with Waters technologies and helps customers with their critical analytical challenges.</blockquote>

Chromatography - APGC

Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS.

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #7: Quantification for Targeted Analysis | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 3</h3>MS Quan is an application in the waters_connect™ for Quantitation software platform that is designed to streamline the LC-MS/MS data processing and review with innovative workflows, data visualization and data navigation. The MS Quan application’s main workflows and overarching features such as task-oriented workflow, batch-level review, and exception-focused review are introduced and illustrated with a PFAS analysis dataset.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>How to create processing method</li><li>Data review with exception focus review</li><li>Compare data and evaluate peak integration</li><li>Export and report of final results</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Helge Grunwald (Sr Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)Helge is part of the Customer Success team at Waters with a focus on LC-MS/MS application and sales support. He works in this role for more than 4 years and gained experience in previous roles as project manager at Intertek and method developer at Basilea Pharmaceutica after he finished his Master of Science in Life Science at FH Nordwestschweiz.</blockquote>

Quantification for Targeted Analysis

The MS Quan application’s main workflows and overarching features are introduced and illustrated with a PFAS analysis dataset. 

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #8: Instruments &amp; Software for Non-Target Screening | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 4</h3>This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. Firstly, we will explain the data-independent acquisition modes MSE and HDMSE. We will describe an intelligent and efficient peak detection algorithm of the HRMS data. The waters_connect software supports us with several tools for the challenging non-Target screening. We will present a selection of discovery tools which collect additional information about the unknown masses to reduce the number of potential candidates. This includes a binary comparison to find differences between samples or the get information on common fragments etc. In addition, multivariate statistics can also be used as a powerful tool for identifying significant non-Target masses. Finally, the determination of the molecular formula of potential candidates and a possible search in online libraries will be presented.<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>Data acquisition in depth (MSE, CCS)</li><li>waters_connect Software &amp; Intelligent Peak Detection</li><li>UNIFI App and Workflow</li><li>Binary Compare - find the Differences</li><li>Discovery Tools – Common Fragments, Mass defect filtering, Halogen Match and more</li><li>Multivariate statistics</li><li>Pattern Targeting Application</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.Presenter:&nbsp;Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</blockquote>

Software and Instruments for NTS

This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. 

<h4>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</h4>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.<h5>Why attend?</h5><ul><li>Comprehensive Learning: Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li>Expert Insights: Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance: Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3>Episode #9: PFAS in Food | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 3 - Module 1</h3>The European Commision published for the first time maximum levels for the so-called “EU 4” PFAS (PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA and PFNA) in eggs, meat and fish with Regulation EU 2023/915. This was an expected result of EFSA’s letter of concern on those 4 PFAS and labs reacted accordingly. A more challenging task came with the EURL PFAS Guidance Document and a bit later with the Recommendation EU 2022/1431. The target LOQs for the EU 4 PFAS were set at 0.001 µg/kg in fruits, vegetables and babyfood. We will discuss the successful method implementation from sample preparation to final report and hear real-life experiences from our guest speaker Victoria Erdely (Eurofins GfA) and Katharina Rund (EURL PFAS).<h5>What you'll learn:</h5><ul><li>How to reach lowest levels of PFAS in food and work according to Recommendation EU 2022/1431 using Xevo TQ Absolute in combination with UniSpray ion source</li><li>How LC method development on Premier LC gives you the widest PFAS panel and separates interferences.</li><li>Tips &amp; tricks from the demo lab to avoid PFAS contamination, implement new analytes, speed up data processing, and keep best performance of your system</li><li>About a special PFAS training to help you implement the method in the lab.</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Dr. Sara Stead (Consulting Scientist, Food and Environmental, Scientific Operations, Waters Corporation)In her current position, Sara is a Principal Sales Application Chemist specializing in food and environmental LC-MS/MS based applications within the Waters UK and Ireland demo laboratory. Sara has worked in F&amp;E analysis with various research interests including the development of both multi-residue HRMS screening and targeted LC/GC MS based methods for the past 25 years in both the government and private sectors. ​Prior to joining Waters Sara was employed as a Lead Scientist at the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA, Defra, UK) for 14 years. Sara has participated in EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) audit inspections, was an expert on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a member of the EuroResidue conference scientific committee.Presenter:&nbsp;Dr. Stuart Adams (Principal Scientist, Market Development, Food and Environmental Applications, Europe, Waters Corporation)Stuart has been developing methods for the determination of contaminants in food and the environment for over 17 years and has been with Waters Corporation since 2018. Stuart's previous role was as a senior analytical chemist at Fera (the UK’s National Reference Laboratory) and moved to Waters to focus on application development in the European region. He now serves as the attached scientist to the European Market Development team responsible for the food and environmental application areas. In his role, he works with customers to understand their analytical challenges and helps address them with Waters technologies.Presenter:&nbsp;Victoria Erdely (Head of Department - Method and Instrument Support, Eurofins GfA)Presenter:&nbsp;Dr. Katharina Rund (Food Chemist, EU Reference Laboratory for halogenated POPs in Feed and Food)</blockquote>

PFAS in Food

We will discuss the successful method implementation from sample preparation to final report and hear real-life experiences.

PFAS testing has become one of the most important topics facing food and environmental laboratories over the last two years.&nbsp;Phenomenex and SCIEX have worked with collaborators to overcome the significant challenges of such analyses, and now offer extremely sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS and sample preparation solutions, with methods and software which are ready to implement.<h4>Key Learning Points</h4><ul><li>Background to PFAS and their regulations</li><li>System Settings and requirements</li><li>Correct HPLC column choice</li><li>Sample Preparation strategies from various matrices</li><li>PFAS as ubiquitous contaminants - Inerting the system</li><li>A sensitive and robust method applicable to water and food sample</li><li>Some insight about designed for PFAS products</li></ul><h4>Who should attend</h4><ul><li>LC/MS or Sample Prep Users, working with several matrices that want to get tips on PFAS method development or on improving their method.</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Jianru Stahl-Zeng, Dr.&nbsp; (Senior Technical Marketing Manager EMEAI, SCIEX)Jianru has been part of SCIEX since 2001. She initially was part of our application Support team and covered not only proteomics but also small molecules applications. Jianru moved to technical marketing and focused on Food and Environmental applications.Since 2018, she is managing the EMEAI technical marketing team and projects. Jianru is also the Global Technical Leader for Food and &nbsp;Environmental application.Presenter:&nbsp;Duilio Romanello (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)Duilio has been working with Phenomenex since 2008. Since 2010 he has been Product Specialist for the GC and SPE lines and then Account Manager for the South of Italy. Since November 2023 he is covering the role of Senior Technical Specialist.He has acquired experience in the Food and Environmental sectors by collaborating with important companies in the industry and providing technical support for the development of method optimization, guidance on applications and troubleshooting, assistance in choosing columns for HPLC, Gas Chromatography (GC), SFC and SPE.</blockquote>

Phenomenex: Advanced strategies in LC/MS/MS for the clean-up and the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various matrices

Advanced strategies in LC/MS/MS for the clean-up and the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various matrices

Extremely sensitive and robust LC-MS/MS and sample preparation solutions, with methods and software which are ready to implement.

LCMS webinars focusing on LC/MS - page 52