Grant To Pat Limbach Helps Probe Mysteries Of The Cell

Professor Pat Limbach almost knows what it’s like to have $1 million. The National Center for Research Resources at NIH recently awarded him and the Proteomics Research & Development Center in the Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry $917,973 for acquisition of a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer for Proteomics research.

This instrument combines the most advanced technologies into a single instrument with unprecedented analytical power and versatility. The advanced, high-performance mass spectrometer is the ideal tool for analytical challenges in metabolic studies, proteome analysis, pharmaceutical discovery, and all other applications demanding rigorous structural characterization. The acquisition of this instrumentation will help catalyze integrated research efforts in biological computation and modeling, experimentation and methods development within UC, the Genome Research Institute, and Children’s Hospital.

Limbach explained the need for the invaluable equipment: “With the completion of the Human Genome Project two years ahead of schedule, attention is shifting towards other components of the cell. While genes form the blueprint for cellular events, it is the proteins, carbohydrates and other molecules that do the actual work. Because of their diverse chemistry and complex shapes, these molecules pose even greater technical challenges to scientists than do the nucleic acids that make up the genome. Proteomics describes the complete set of proteins present in a biological system at a given point in time and under particular environmental conditions. Successful research in proteomics (and the related fields of glycomics and metabolomics) requires state-of-the-art instrumentation and technical skills.”

The award was made possible by supporting funds provided by Sandra Degen, acting vice president of research, who wrote in her letter of support to NIH, “My office recognizes the crucial role of mass spectrometry technology and instrumentation in modern proteomics, and I am extremely excited about the recent initiatives Professor Limbach has undertaken and the progress he has made in this area. The requested instrumentation will be a core component of our efforts to provide our faculty and scientists a competitive environment.”