Agilent Technologies and UC Make Great Chemistry

Now, officials hope great strides in research will come by partnering innovative equipment and scientific insight via the right representatives from the academic and corporate world.

The center's Jan. 19 unveiling drew dozens of guests, including UC and Agilent officials and UC graduate students. Those students, along with associates in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and the United States, will use Agilent-provided technology to pursue work in all fields related to metallomics – the analysis of metals and metal species and their interactions within biological and ecological systems.

Applications include neurological research, metalloproteomics, metal tags for ultra-trace-level organic compound determination, and environmental monitoring, among many others, by using liquid chromatography (LC) paired with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

"There's nothing like this in the world – it fills a niche not currently covered at universities," said Joe Caruso, chemistry professor and center director. "I hope it is sufficiently unique that it will be repeated in lots of places."

Putting tools in place at the Center is just the start, said Agilent's Chris Toney, vice president and general manager, Chemical Analysis/Mass Spectrometer Systems.

"We provide tools to do measurements," he said. "But it's only through the efforts of great scientists like Joe Caruso and his wonderful team that you can get the insight to solve real-world problems with these tools, and turn it into useful information."

Fourth-year doctoral student Douglas Richardson is a member of Caruso's research group. His dissertation research focuses on new method development for chemical warfare agent detection. His current role in the lab focuses on working with younger/newer students and helping them learn how to conduct research as well as use state of the art instrumentation in the proper manner.

"The support that Agilent has provided through instrumentation is largely responsible for the success of my research as well as our group's," Richardson said. "In our very specific area of chemistry, the access to new and up-to-date instrumentation provides the resources necessary to make a scientific impact. Agilent has provided us these tools.

"The impact of research in this field ranges from development of a rapid tool for chemical warfare agent detection to a diagnostic method for detecting early signs of disease and/or treatment and prevention tools. It is very exciting to be involved with the dedication of a center such as this. We are at the beginning of something that is great for UC students, faculty and alumni."

University officials say the pairing is a perfect complement for UC|21 strategic vision goals of putting students at the center, growing research and academic excellence, and forging key relationships and partnerships.

"It truly is and will be a Center for the Americas," said Dean Karen Gould of McMicken College of Arts & Sciences.

"Joe Caruso is a very dedicated scientist who cares tremendously about the faculty, students and broader scientific community. When he came to me with this proposal, I knew I needed to listen hard … It bodes so well for so many parts of the campus – Medicine, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology – as well as Agilent."

Modern science is collaborative and interdisciplinary, points out Pat Limbach, acting chemistry department head.

"This type of partnership demonstrates what the face of research is today," he said. "Gone are the days of the lone PI working long hours alone in the lab."

What's happened to date through the teaming of UC and Agilent is "very exciting," said Rudi Grimm, Agilent's worldwide proteomics market development manager.

"I'm thrilled by this collaboration," he said. "Joe and his team are so willing to go new ways to do scientific research … they've come up with lots of great new data and help us understand biology in a whole new way."

Former Agilent service representative Kirk Lokits is now a UC chemistry doctoral student. Perhaps more than many, he has seen and understands how the company's equipment can aid students and scientists, and how Agilent benefits from the work of bright young minds.

"I speak for the group when I say we realize this is an investment on Agilent's part, and we will definitely do our best to live up to that investment and challenge," Lokits said.

"As a student, I look at it and go, 'Sweet.' The things we can do with the tools Agilent allows us to have are remarkable – things that haven't even been thought of yet."