Monthly Newsletter

Mass Spectrometry Research by Professor David Clemmer Has Paved the Way for New Discoveries in Proteomics and Protein Characterization

At a ceremony at Indiana University’s Bloomington campus, Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) welcomed the Laboratory of Biological Mass Spectrometry and Professor David Clemmer, the Robert and Marjorie Mann Chair of Chemistry and the Associate Dean of Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences into its Centers of Innovation Program. Waters honored Professor Clemmer’s contributions to ion mobility mass spectrometry that have given researchers everywhere new routes to discovery in the areas of protein characterization and the emerging field of proteomics.

Said Lauren Robel, Indiana University Provost and Executive Vice President, “On behalf of IU I am honored to welcome the Waters Corporation as our partner in our academic research mission, and to offer my personal congratulations to Professor Clemmer and his research team on earning this exceptional designation. This is an exciting collaboration and epitomizes the groundbreaking possibilities that emerge when leading university researchers team with pioneering private sector partners. The resulting innovations can revolutionize the ways in which we conduct research, greatly accelerate scientific discoveries and present students with unprecedented and remarkable opportunities to learn from and contribute to leading edge laboratory technologies.”

“This is a really important milestone in the life of our department and university. It’s an enormous honor for me to stand here before you to recognize one of our very best,” said Professor David Giedroc, Chair of the Department of Chemistry. “David has had a tremendous influence on the development of ion mobility mass spectrometry.”

In his remarks to the audience, John Gebler, General Manager of the Waters Centers of Innovation Program said, “It’s remarkable to see how far mass spectrometry has come over the last two decades. Today we honor a key contributor to the revolutionary developments that have taken place. When you see David’s laboratory, you can see the future of mass spectrometry taking shape with a passion and enthusiasm that is hard to find anywhere else.”

In acknowledging the honor, Professor Clemmer who, in 2009, received the Tracy M. Sonneborn Award, IU’s highest honor for excellence in research and teaching, was quick to credit others who have influenced his career. “This recognition from Waters Corporation means a lot to me. However, I have been very fortunate along the way to have been helped by many gifted students, colleagues, advisers and mentors and administrators who have put their faith in me. I cannot thank them enough for their contributions to my work in ion mobility mass spectrometry.”

In conjunction with the Centers of Innovation ceremony, Indiana University hosted a special half-day scientific Symposium in Professor Clemmer’s honor on Advancements in High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Biomolecular Characterization. The Symposium featured leading international researchers in the field of ion mobility mass spectrometry including Prof. Perdita Barran, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland; Prof. Michael Gross, Washington, University, St. Louis, MO; Prof. Michael Przybylski, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; and Dr. Kevin Giles of Waters Corporation.

About Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Ion mobility mass spectrometry separates gas phase ions based on their size, mass and charge giving scientists the ability to separate isomers or conformers of compounds. As a result, scientists are now able to predict the size and importantly, the shape, of molecules with greater accuracy and clarity than ever before. With ion mobility data, they can also build 3D models of proteins and protein complexes - assemblies of two or more proteins – a capability not previously possible with classic two-dimensional mass spectra.

The implementation of ion mobility mass spectrometry into the Waters SYNAPT® HDMS Mass Spectrometer has been credited with a surge of applications in the areas of proteomics, lipidomics, whole-protein analysis, small molecule analysis, and tissue imaging.

Prior to the Symposium, IU’s Laboratory of Biological Mass Spectrometry took delivery of its second Waters Synapt HDMS Mass Spectrometer.

For more information visit Professor Clemmer’s Research Group