Next-generation ultra-high resolution ION mobility spectrometer for metabolomics - metabolism is essential to human health and its study via metabolomics is crucial to biomedical research

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded $2,843,142 to Battelle Memorial Institute's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on July 1, 2026, 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 project will deliver an ion mobility spectrometer with ultra-high resolution and sensitivity to detect small changes in metabolite structure, coupled with a highly precise collision cross-section calculator. The platform aims to enable comprehensive metabolomics measurements by distinguishing between challenging isomers such as isotopomers through greatly improved ion mobility separations and highly precise property predictions. The platform will provide enhanced resolution, faster analysis speed, broader applicability across metabolite chemical classes, and improved sensitivity and measurement dynamic range when combined with mass spectrometry. Deliverables include platform control and data acquisition capabilities to position the platform for initial metabolomics applications and dissemination.

Work is performed in Richland, Washington, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. The assistance type is a Project Grant, classified as support for investigator-initiated basic research that advances understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

However, current platforms for measuring metabolites that combine chromatography separations with mass spectrometry have limitations. This project aims to develop a new platform that provides ultra-high ION mobility resolution and sensitivity to small changes in the metabolite structure. The project will also develop a highly precise collision cross-section calculator that utilizes the new platform's ultra-high-resolution data. These developments will enable higher quality and more comprehensive metabolomics measurements by distinguishing between challenging isomers such as isotopomers. The key developments will be the implementation of greatly improved ION mobility separations and highly precise property predictions. These developments will provide much greater resolution, higher speed, broader applicability to metabolite chemical classes, and improved sensitivity and measurement dynamic range in conjunction with mass spectrometry. The new platform development efforts will include the essential platform control and data acquisition capabilities, resulting in a platform ready for initial metabolomics applications and dissemination.