Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, a $2.84 million Project Grant under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to develop a next-generation ultra-high resolution ion mobility spectrometer platform for metabolomics research. The award, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, will fund the design and development of an advanced analytical platform that significantly improves upon current chromatography-mass spectrometry systems. The project will deliver a platform featuring greatly enhanced ion mobility separation capabilities, a highly precise collision cross-section calculator, and integrated platform control and data acquisition systems capable of distinguishing challenging isomers such as isotopomers with superior resolution, sensitivity, and measurement dynamic range.

This development initiative addresses critical limitations in current metabolomics measurement platforms by enabling higher-quality and more comprehensive metabolite analysis across a broader range of chemical classes. The resulting platform will be ready for initial metabolomics applications and dissemination upon project completion, supporting the NIGMS mission to advance fundamental biomedical research that increases understanding of biological processes and establishes the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.