In this episode of ‪ChromatographyTalk‬, ‪Organomation‬ General Manager David Oliva sits down with Imad Haidar Ahmad, Scientific Research Director at Amgen leading separations for Discovery Chemistry and Externalization. Imad's career spans Novartis, Merck, and now Amgen, and his research on computer-assisted method development has landed multiple front covers in Analytical Chemistry.We dig into how his group builds retention models from as few as nine lab experiments to map an entire separation landscape — replacing weeks of trial and error with a resolution map you can query and rebuild from. Imad breaks down where this modeling approach struggles (large molecules, SFC, fully autonomous method development), walks through two-dimensional liquid chromatography in plain terms for anyone who's only worked in 1D, and shares the story behind his group's greenness-score mapping work — including where swapping acetonitrile for methanol worked, and where it didn't.We also talk career advice: what a typical day looks like leading a discovery-stage separations team, how undergrad and grad students can bridge the academia-to-industry gap, and what Imad sees as the field's biggest unsolved problem.<h3>Video Transcription</h3>Chromatographic method development is increasingly moving beyond trial and error toward workflows built on modeling, automation, multidimensional separations, and smarter use of data. In a recent interview, Haidar Ahmad discussed how these approaches are changing pharmaceutical analysis, why understanding the fundamentals of chromatography remains essential, and where some of the biggest opportunities in separation science still lie.Ahmad’s route into analytical chemistry was not entirely planned. As an undergraduate, he initially found inorganic and organic chemistry particularly attractive, but a final-year project focused on the analysis of additives in bread introduced him to the possibilities of analytical chemistry. During his PhD, his research moved into polymer analysis and structure–property relationships. His interest in chromatography deepened when he encountered two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), particularly its ability to reveal forms of polymer heterogeneity that could not be adequately characterized using a single separation technique. This eventually led to postdoctoral work with Peter Carr, where Ahmad focused on chromatographic separations and the fundamentals of chromatography.His subsequent career in the pharmaceutical industry exposed him to different stages of drug development, from late-stage method development and validation to drug substance characterization, purification, and finally discovery-stage separations. That breadth of experience has shaped his view of chromatography as both a scientific discipline and a practical problem-solving tool. In late-stage development, the objective may be a highly robust method capable of successful validation and transfer between laboratories. In discovery, by contrast, speed becomes critical because teams may be working with thousands of molecules while trying to identify the best candidates to advance.&nbsp;<h4>Discovery-stage chromatography: speed, prioritization, and throughput</h4>For a separations team supporting drug discovery, the working day is shaped by a constant flow of requests from medicinal chemistry and other partner groups. The challenge is not simply to perform the analyses, but to decide which requests are most urgent, remove bottlenecks, communicate with project teams, and continuously improve existing workflows.According to Ahmad, one of the most important questions is whether a task can be done faster or in a more high-throughput way. Discovery laboratories operate under strong time pressure, and efficiency therefore becomes part of the scientific strategy rather than merely an operational concern. As he describes it, the work combines science, prioritization, leadership, and communication, all with the aim of moving the most important projects forward as quickly as possible.<h4>In silico modeling: letting the computer perform the experiments</h4>One of the central themes of Ahmad’s work is in silico chromatographic modeling. In practical terms, the approach begins with a carefully designed set of laboratory experiments—often around nine runs. The resulting data are fed into software that builds retention models describing how analyte retention changes with variables such as mobile-phase composition and temperature.The software can then generate a resolution map representing a much larger separation space than could realistically be tested experimentally. Instead of running dozens or hundreds of conditions by trial and error, the analyst can identify regions where critical peak pairs are predicted to achieve the best separation.For Ahmad, the value of these maps goes beyond simply finding the condition with the highest resolution. Each point on the map represents a chromatographic condition, while the visual output shows where poor and strong separations are expected. A broad region of good resolution is particularly useful because it points toward a more robust operating space rather than a narrowly defined optimum that might be sensitive to small variations in experimental conditions.He therefore prefers to think of a chromatographic model as a map or database, rather than simply an optimization tool. If an impurity later disappears from the process, the corresponding peak can be removed from the model and new conditions selected without repeating the complete experimental study. Conversely, if a new degradation product appears during stability studies, the peak can be added and the existing model used to search for updated separation conditions.<h4>Why trial and error still has a place</h4>Modeling does not mean that conventional trial-and-error method development has disappeared. Ahmad points out that it remains useful in early discovery, particularly for fit-for-purpose methods where speed is more important than achieving a fully optimized separation.The situation changes later in development. A method intended for validation, transfer, or long-term routine use carries much greater risk. Trial and error may identify a condition that appears satisfactory without revealing whether it represents the most robust region of the separation space. If that method later fails during transfer or routine operation, the consequences can be costly.For late-stage methods, the additional investment required to build a model can therefore reduce risk over the much longer lifetime of the analytical procedure.<h4>Models are only as good as the experiments behind them</h4>Chromatographic modeling is not automatic proof against poor method development. Ahmad compares the technology to a GPS: it is highly useful, but only if the analyst understands where they are trying to go.Careful experimental design remains essential. Incorrect dwell-volume or column-volume information, as well as insufficient column re-equilibration, can produce misleading predictions. Importantly, these problems may not be obvious when the experimental runs used to construct the model are compared with their calculated values. They may emerge only when the software begins predicting new conditions within the modeled design space.Modeling is also easier for some separations than others. Ahmad describes reversed-phase LC of small molecules as comparatively straightforward, while large biomolecules are more challenging because their retention can be highly sensitive to small changes in mobile-phase composition and temperature.Other separation modes present additional difficulties. Ahmad notes that his teams have found supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) particularly challenging to model successfully. Fully autonomous method development remains another unresolved goal: current tools can automate parts of optimization, but analyst input is still required.<h4>Why two dimensions can reveal what one dimension cannot</h4>Ahmad’s early interest in 2D-LC came from polymer characterization. He explains the principle simply: one-dimensional chromatography may answer one question about a sample, while two complementary dimensions can answer two.Two copolymers, for example, may have similar molecular size and therefore coelute in size-exclusion chromatography. A second separation mechanism based on interaction with a stationary phase may distinguish them according to chemical composition. Combining both dimensions provides a more complete description of complex distributions involving molecular weight, composition, sequence, and other forms of heterogeneity.Historically, the complexity of both instrumentation and software limited wider adoption of 2D-LC. Ahmad recalls systems requiring several computers and multiple software packages. That situation has improved substantially, and 2D-LC is now easier to implement across research and pharmaceutical development.Nevertheless, modeling multidimensional separations still presents challenges. While models can be built for individual fractions or dimensions, current software does not easily identify a common optimum across multiple models simultaneously. Much of this comparison still requires manual work.<h4>Bringing sustainability into method development</h4>Another area where Ahmad sees room for change is green analytical chemistry.Traditional pharmaceutical method development has understandably prioritized resolution, sensitivity, robustness, and turnaround time. Sustainability has often been treated as a secondary consideration, particularly at the analytical scale, where solvent use appears small compared with preparative chromatography or manufacturing.That mindset is beginning to change. Ahmad argues that greenness metrics should increasingly be incorporated directly into method-development software. If analysts could immediately see how changes in flow rate, gradient conditions, solvent choice, or other parameters affect the environmental profile of a method, sustainability could become part of routine optimization rather than an assessment performed after the method has already been developed.The objective, however, is not to pursue the greenest possible method regardless of analytical performance. Ahmad emphasizes the need to develop methods that are as green as possible while remaining fit for purpose. Modeling can potentially help balance these competing requirements by identifying conditions that preserve separation performance while allowing greener solvents or alternative chromatographic conditions to be introduced.<h4>Advice for young chromatographers: do not treat HPLC as a black box</h4>For students learning chromatography, Ahmad’s central recommendation is straightforward: do not treat the HPLC system as a black box.Rather than collecting chromatograms by making random changes, he encourages analysts to build a mental model of the separation. When temperature, gradient, or another parameter is changed, they should ask why retention or selectivity changed and use each experiment to improve their understanding of the system.He also recommends making use of educational resources on chromatographic fundamentals and method development and, importantly, not being afraid to experiment with instrument conditions. Modern systems are robust, but the analyst still needs to understand the underlying separation science in order to use them effectively.The same proactive attitude applies to career development. Ahmad strongly encourages students to seek industry internships and make connections beyond their own institutions. Conferences and poster sessions can provide natural opportunities to meet scientists from industry, discuss research, and ask about internship opportunities. Based on his own experience working with undergraduate and graduate interns, these collaborations can benefit both students and research teams and may strongly influence later academic or career decisions.<h4>What still needs to be solved?</h4>Asked about the biggest unresolved challenges in separation science, Ahmad does not begin with technology. Instead, he points to a shortage of well-trained analytical chemists with a strong understanding of chromatographic fundamentals.Alongside education, he identifies several technical opportunities. One is truly autonomous method development, where an instrument and software could optimize a separation without continuous analyst input. Another is the ability to predict chromatographic selectivity directly from molecular structure.Such capability could be especially valuable in high-throughput discovery environments. If a laboratory could predict which stationary phase and conditions were most likely to separate a particular set of compounds or isomers before entering the laboratory, method development could become considerably faster and more efficient.Taken together, Ahmad’s perspective points toward a future in which chromatography becomes increasingly model-driven, automated, multidimensional, and sustainability-aware. But the technology does not eliminate the need for chromatographic knowledge. On the contrary, as analytical tools become more powerful, understanding the fundamentals may become even more important—the software can explore the separation space, but the scientist still needs to know what question to ask and how to interpret the answer.<blockquote>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

 In Silico Modeling, 2D-LC & Green Chromatography: Imad Ahmad on the Future of Method Development

Proper care and maintenance of HPLC columns are essential for getting accurate results and saving on replacement costs. Extending the HPLC column life not only ensures consistent performance but also reduces downtime and the need for frequent replacements.Routine maintenance is equally essential for sustaining column functionality. Correct handling of the column is paramount, ensuring strict compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications regarding pressure, pH, flow rate, and temperature.In the next section, we will explore these best practices in greater detail, offering further guidance on essential HPLC column maintenance strategies. Whether you’re working in a high-throughput lab, or conducting occasional analyses, these strategies will help you get the most out of your <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products?category=48&amp;manufacturerItems=50">HPLC columns</a>.<h3>Essential Guidelines for Extending HPLC Column Life</h3>By adopting these simple yet effective practices, you can greatly extend the HPLC column life while ensuring reliable, high-quality results in your analyses.<h4>Proper Column Handling</h4>HPLC columns should be handled with care to prevent physical damage or shock. The pump should not be started at high flow rates; instead, the flow rate should be gradually increased over several minutes. A pump pressure limit should be set to protect the column from over pressuring, as sudden pressure changes can lead to voids, negatively affecting the column’s performance.<h4>HPLC Column Conditioning and Equilibration</h4>Conditioning is a critical step for preparing a new or stored HPLC column by replacing the storage solvent with the desired mobile phase. Care must be taken to avoid introducing immiscible solvent mixtures into the column. Universally miscible solvents such as THF (tetrahydrofuran) or IPA (isopropyl alcohol) can be useful for this process when moving from normal phase to reversed phase solvent systems. Care must also be taken to ensure that solvents that may be damaging to a specific stationary phase are avoided.For example, if a reversed-phase column experiences phase collapse due to 100% aqueous mobile phases, it should be reactivated. This process involves running 100% acetonitrile at a high flow rate and a temperature as high as 60°C. It is essential to ensure no solid buffers precipitate from residual solvents. Depending on the column condition, between 50 and 100 column volumes are needed for complete reactivation and equilibration, restoring the column’s efficiency for future use.<h4>Optimizing Operating Conditions</h4>Optimizing operating conditions is paramount to enhancing HPLC column efficiency and prolonging their operational lifespan. A fundamental aspect of this is strict adherence to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature, pH and pressure parameters.Deviating from these limits, particularly by operating at elevated temperatures, can significantly hasten the degradation of the stationary phase and hardware, thereby compromising overall performance. Elevated temperatures can also narrow the pH operating range, exacerbating the risk of column degradation through phenomena such as peak broadening or diminished efficiency.Effective pressure management is equally crucial. Sudden pressure surges or mechanical shocks can result in bed voiding, leading to poor chromatographic performance, such as split peaks and reduced separation efficiency. Gradual ramping of flow and pressure, implemented each time the column is initiated, mitigates these risks. Many modern HPLC systems are equipped with automated flow-pressure ramping capabilities, ensuring smoother transitions and reducing the potential for column damage.In addition, vigilant monitoring of the mobile phase's pH is vital to the maintenance of HPLC column integrity. Deviations from the optimal pH range can cause significant harm to the stationary phase. For instance, leads to ligand hydrolysis which leads to a loss of stationary phase functionality and diminished column performance over time. High pH can lead to silica degradation. This weakens the silica structure, causing particle dissolution, void formation, and loss of column efficiency. Maintaining the pH within optimal boundaries is essential for preserving the column’s structural integrity and ensuring consistent chromatographic performance.Furthermore, incorporating inline filters and guard columns into the system serves as a proactive measure to prevent particulates and harsh sample matrices from damaging the analytical column. These preventive tools significantly enhance operational conditions and safeguard the column from contamination, ultimately contributing to extended HPLC column lifetime and reliable performance.<h4>Regular Column Maintenance</h4>Effective routine maintenance is paramount to extending the HPLC column lifetime and ensuring the consistent performance of HPLC columns. A critical aspect of this maintenance is the thorough washing of the column after each use to eliminate residual sample components and mobile phase contaminants.The cleaning process generally involves performing an isocratic or gradient wash using a solvent system similar to the one previously used on the column but substituting the buffer with HPLC-grade water. This helps effectively remove any residual buffer components from the column. This meticulous cleaning process is vital to preventing the accumulation of impurities that could compromise the stationary phase and lead to decreased efficiency over time.Post-cleaning, it is imperative to end-cap the column before storage to prevent the stationary phase from drying out, a condition that can negatively impact the column’s future performance. Proper capping or sealing ensures that the column remains in optimal condition, safeguarding its structural integrity and readiness for subsequent analyses.Additionally, utilizing an older HPLC system as a dedicated wash station can further streamline maintenance practices, freeing up live systems for active use. Consistently adhering to a rigorous cleaning and storage regimen not only enhances the longevity of HPLC columns but also guarantees the delivery of precise and reliable analytical results.For severe contamination or pressure buildup, backflushing may be necessary to dislodge tightly bound contaminants. However, backflushing should only be performed when absolutely necessary, as it can stress the column packing material. It is essential to consult the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting this method.

How to Extend the Lifetime of HPLC Columns?

Researchers from CATRIN at Palacký University, together with colleagues from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and Charles University, have developed a new graphene ink for producing inexpensive and sensitive printed sensors. Using single-atom engineering, they incorporated copper atoms into the material, enabling highly sensitive detection of dopamine – a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells. The approach, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">presented in the journal Advanced Science</a>, has strong potential for use in medical diagnostics.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Single-atom engineering makes it possible to control the chemical reactivity of materials at the level of individual atoms. Its broader application in medical diagnostics has so far been limited by a lack of atomically engineered materials and printable inks based on them. Researchers have now developed a new class of single-atom-doped graphene materials as well as an ink for producing sensitive printed sensors. Copper proved particularly effective for dopamine detection, which is important for biomedical research and the development of advanced diagnostic technologies for diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“The NGA-Cu ink we developed enables the production of fully inkjet-printed, sustainable paper-based electrodes at very low cost. Each sensor requires only 1.3 micrograms of active ink, costs approximately one Czech koruna and provided a stable response for at least three months. The ink is also fully compatible with commonly available materials inkjet printers. This creates significant potential for producing affordable, digitally designed sensors whose function can be tailored atom by atom,” said&nbsp;the corresponding author of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">paper</a> Michal Otyepka.The basis for this new generation of single-atom inks was nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA), which CATRIN researchers developed several years ago. They have now progressively enriched it with different individual metal atoms, including copper, iron and manganese.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“We found that the electrochemical response depends fundamentally on the type of atom used. While copper atoms significantly enhance the dopamine signal, other metals suppress it. What matters, therefore, is not only the presence of isolated metal atoms but also the specific metal involved. This is a very important finding for the further development of biosensors,” explained first author Martin-Alex Nalepa.The published results introduce a new class of sensing materials with considerable potential for medical diagnostics. The researchers present a broadly applicable platform for developing graphene inks containing individual metal atoms and open the way towards scalable, reproducible and material-efficient production of advanced electrochemical sensors.&nbsp;“We are only at the beginning and are fascinated by the new possibilities opening up before us. We can see that by changing the type of atom, we can control the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor. In addition to dopamine, we can also determine immunoglobulins very precisely – antibodies whose levels and types may serve as important indicators of autoimmune or infectious diseases,” emphasised Radek Zbořil, a co-author of the paper.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Electrochemical biosensors can find applications not only in medicine but also in food quality control, drinking-water monitoring and environmental pollution monitoring. Their key components are functionalised electrodes, and graphene-based materials have proved particularly suitable for their production. A key factor in the success of the Olomouc researchers was the targeted preparation of graphene ink with the required properties.The research was supported by the TECHSCALE project under the Johannes Amos Comenius Programme.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics: Project TECHSCALE (No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004587) is financed by the MEYS OP JAC Excellent research programme, supported by ERDF/ESF." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="620" height="87"><blockquote><h4>Article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">Single-Atom-Enhanced Fully Inkjet-Printed Electrochemical Sensor for Dopamine Detection</a></h4>Martin-Alex Nalepa, David Panáček, Vítězslav Hrubý, Matěj Jendřišák, Rostislav Langer, Michal Langer, Petr Jakubec, Ivan Dědek, Vojtěch Kupka, Michal Mazur, Radek Zbořil, Michal OtyepkaAdv. Sci., 2026, e76796<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796">https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796</a><h6>licenced under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Single-atom (SA) engineering offers atomic-level control over interfacial reactivity, yet the lack of printable SA-based inks hinders its practical translation into electrochemical sensing. Here, a fully water-based inkjet-printable ink is introduced based on nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA) hosting atomically dispersed Cu centers (NGA-Cu-ink). The ink enables digitally controlled, spatially defined deposition and fabrication of low-cost ($0.04 per sensor), fully inkjet-printed sustainable electrodes on paper. A comparison of NGA functionalized with different SA dopants (Cu, Mn, Fe, Ce) identifies a strong dopant-dependent electrochemical response, with Cu uniquely enhancing the analyte signal while other dopants suppress it, demonstrating that SA identity is a decisive design parameter in printed sensing interfaces profiling sensitivity and selectivity. The functional role of the NGA support is to provide dense anchoring sites (nitrogen and carboxylate groups) that stabilize atomically dispersed metal centers and create adsorption- and electron-transfer–active microenvironments. The NGA-Cu-ink yields enhanced dopamine oxidation, enabling quantitative detection on fully printed devices (limit of detection 9.7 µM; linear range 50–400 µM) and printed-on-electrode platforms (10.6 µM), while maintaining &lt;10% signal variation over 11 weeks. The approach establishes a general route to single-atom graphene-based inks for scalable, reproducible, and low-material-consumption manufacturing of advanced electrochemical sensors.

Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics

Article

Academy

Scientists

Interview

Science and research

Video

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

Phenomenex is a global technology leader committed to developing novel analytical chemistry solutions that solve the separation and purification challenges of researchers in industrial, government and academic laboratories.

Phenomenex

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Organomation

Agilent Technologies

Unchained Labs

Bruker

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Waters Corporation

<ul>
<li>Wait what?! Who knew!? There are so many things that a mass spec can do.
</li>
<li>I&#39;ve used it for years, yes this may be true.
</li>
<li>I&#39;ve processed some samples, more than a few.
</li>
<li>But between me and you, I had no idea all the things it could do!
</li>
<li>From sample prep to separation, you just won&#39;t believe…
</li>
<li>All of the tips and tricks we have up our sleeve.
</li>
<li>So, take a few minutes, about 15 should do.
</li>
<li>And learn all the things your mass spec can do.
</li>
</ul>
Thinking of developing a new method utilizing MS? Selecting the best analytical method begins with a decision on how to best separate the analytes of interest. This choice will affect sample preparation and sample introduction, so it is important to get it right early. In this webinar we will review analyte structural properties that make the compound more amenable to either liquid chromatography or to gas chromatography.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Karen Yannell (LC/MS Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Karen E. Yannell is a LC/MS Application Engineer at Agilent Technologies. She is an expert in small molecule high throughput analysis by triple quadrupole (TQ) and quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry for applied markets. Her recent work has focused on developing routine Q-TOF workflows for both expert and non-expert users alike. Previously, Karen worked on forensic, metabolomics, and biomarker discovery applications with ambient ionization sources. She received her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University where studied under the advisement of Prof. R. Graham Cooks. Outside of the laboratory, she enjoys cooking unique dishes and hiking along the beach with her dog.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: David Weil, PhD (Senior Applications Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
David Weil is a senior applications scientist in Agilent located in Wood Dale with over 30 years of experience using mass spectrometry. Prior to joining Agilent in 2004, he worked for 14 years at 3M in the Corporate Research Analytical Laboratories (St.Paul, MN) and 4 years at Nicolet/Extrel doing ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. David received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and Post Doc with Dr Charles Wilkins at University of California-Riverside developing laser desorption FTMS and ion-molecule reactions. David has three grown sons and live with his wife Naomi just blocks from Wrigley Field and Lake Michigan.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Matt Curtis, PhD (GC/MS Applications Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Matt joined Agilent in 2013 as a GC/MS applications scientist in the Santa Clara, CA Center of Excellence. His primary responsibility is focused on providing instrument demos for customer interested in each technology Agilent offers; the GC/MS single quadrupole, triple quadrupole and the quadrupole Time-of-Flight. The variety of different samples submitted to the demo lab provide a unique knowledge of optimizing parameters for different applications to provide the best quality data from the instrument.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Selecting your Separation: Are my Compounds Better for GC or LC

Selecting your Separation: Are my Compounds Better for GC or LC

We will review analyte structural properties that make the compound more amenable to either liquid chromatography or to gas chromatography.

Separation selection: Are my Compounds Better for GC or LC

TBD
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mark Sartain, Ph.D. (LC/MS Applications Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Mark has developed a diverse array of targeted and nontargeted mass-spectrometry based metabolomics and lipidomics applications since joining Agilent in 2012, with a focus on complete hardware/software workflows. Mark began utilizing mass spectrometry in his graduate work to characterize glycoproteins, and later established a novel LC/MS strategy to comprehensively profile and identify complex lipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in his postdoctoral fellowship at Colorado State University. He continued designing a wide range of MS-based techniques to measure metabolites and lipids for diverse projects as a Research Scientist at the Institute of Systems Biology (Seattle, WA) prior to joining Agilent.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: LC/TQ Solutions to Give Your Lab Multi-omic Biological Insights

LC/TQ Solutions to Give Your Lab Multi-omic Biological Insights

LC/TQ to Give Your Lab Multi-omic Biological Insights

Many illicit and prescribed medications are reported to impair drivers control of their vehicles, increasing the potential for road traffic accidents.
Analytical testing to support DUID legislation requires the quantitation of large panels of drugs exhibiting a wide range of chemical properties. To achieve a simple workflow to detect all relevant molecules optimally and at their specified concentrations presents some analytical challenges.
This presentation will detail a fast, simple, and generic sample preparation method for whole blood and its application to DUID samples. The developed sample preparation method in combination with UPLC-MS/MS will be presented and the benefits of this protocol for laboratories will be discussed.
Learning objectives from the webinar – what you will learn: 
<ul>
<li>A background to driving under the influence – what it is, the importance, legislation, and analytical requirements.</li>
<li>Sample preparation protocol for whole blood samples and its application to DUID samples.</li>
<li>How a simple generic method could be beneficial to forensic toxicology laboratories involved in DUID analysis.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Emily Lee (Application Scientist, Forensics, Research &amp; Development, Waters Corporation, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Emily Lee is an Application Scientist at Waters Corporation. Emily is part of a global team dedicated to the development of applications and analytical solutions for Forensics and Toxicology. Emily has gained experience in the use of various Waters mass spectrometry technologies for the analysis of forensic and toxicologically relevant analytes. Prior to working at Waters, Emily has experience working in forensic toxicology laboratories, with high sample turnover and fast turnaround times. Emily was involved in many aspects of day-to-day laboratory operations including sample extraction, analysis, method development and validation, analytical troubleshooting, and reporting. Emily also gained a MSc in Forensic Science (Toxicology) at the University of Huddersfield.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: A Fast, Simple and Generic Sample Preparation Protocol for Whole Blood and its Application to DUID Samples

A Fast, Simple and Generic Sample Preparation Protocol for Whole Blood and its Application to DUID Samples

This presentation will detail a fast, simple, and generic sample preparation method for whole blood and its application to DUID samples.

Sample Preparation Protocol for Whole Blood and DUID Samples

Purification is critical to many scientific workflows. Compounds of interest are rarely found to be the right purity in their native state. Join Waters and Virscidian for this 6-part webinar series to learn the basics of purification and application of purification principles for more advanced workflows.
<h3>PART 4 | Using the Waters Fraction Manager Analytical (WFMA) to Achieve UPLC Scale Purification</h3>
Analytical scale purification provides for routine and robust isolation of your investigatory compounds. Challenges with UPLC purification include peak widths of 1-3 seconds and collecting the 6 to 50 µL peak volume. The Waters Fraction Manager Analytical (WFMA) addresses these challenges. Learn more about analytical scale purification with Waters. 
Learning Objectives: 
<ul>
<li>Understand analytical scale purification</li>
<li>Implement best practices to collect small volume fractions</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Andrew Leightner (Market Development Manager – Americas Field Marketing, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Andy Leightner has over 10 years of experience serving the pharma market from contract research organizations. He specialized in method development and validation leveraging LC, GC, and mass spectrometry to meet complex client needs. He supports pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical discovery and development in the Americas for Waters Corporation. Andy received a bachelors degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Using the Waters Fraction Manager Analytical (WFMA) to Achieve UPLC Scale Purification

Using the Waters Fraction Manager Analytical (WFMA) to Achieve UPLC Scale Purification

Learn more about analytical scale purification with Waters.

Waters Fraction Manager Analytical UPLC Scale Purification

Introducing midia-PASEF®, a groundbreaking DIA scan mode utilizing overlapping quadrupole windows for comprehensive ion analysis.
In this webinar, you’ll discover how midia-PASEF offers precise precursor m/z determination, automated processing with the MIDIAID pipeline and supports library-free DIA analyses. You’ll also learn how you can rapidly identify over 40 unique peptides per second for de novo sequencing with highly specific MS/MS spectra and discover the real-world applications of this technology within the proteomics field.
Attend this webinar to: 
<ul>
<li>Learn how midia-PASEF® maximizes data quality, enabling fast peptide identification and library-free DIA analyses</li>
<li>Explore the automated MIDIAID pipeline that streamlines processing with peak detection algorithms and machine learning</li>
<li>Discover how you can obtain specific MS/MS spectra for de novo sequencing and seamless searching</li>
<li>See real-world applications: Gain insights into midiaPASEF’s uses in proteomics research, from characterizing the complex immunopeptidome to advancing targeted therapies</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Stefan Tenzer (Professor for Immunopeptidomics, University Medical Center, Mainz)
</blockquote>

Bruker Daltonics: Maximizing Information Content in Data-Independent Acquisition Using midia-PASEF

Maximizing Information Content in Data-Independent Acquisition Using midia-PASEF

How midia-PASEF offers precise precursor m/z determination, automated processing with the MIDIAID pipeline and supports library-free DIA analyses.

Data-Independent Acquisition Using midia-PASEF

L-asparaginase (ASNase) is an enzyme-drug that is approved for the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but is too toxic for adults. To elucidate potentially targetable mechanisms of toxicity with the ultimate goal of decreasing ASNase toxicity and extending its use to adults, we performed multi-omic profiling of the response to ASNase in adult (16-week-old) mice. We administered a range of sub-toxic and toxic doses of ASNase to healthy mice, collected whole blood samples, processed them to plasma, and used a novel sample preparation with just 20 µL mouse plasma as input. We analyzed the extracts using a multi-omic, bioanalytical LC/MS platform capable of measuring 500+ metabolites, 750+ lipids, and 375 peptides.
A Bio-LC was used with three different separations for metabolites, lipids, and peptides. A fast, sensitive, robust, 6495 LC/TQ MS system was used with comprehensive databases for pathway analysis. The results suggested that ASNase induces multi-modal cell death as evidenced by metabolite-, lipid-, and peptide/protein-level changes that occurred in a dose-dependent manner. 
Future studies will test the hypothesis that inhibiting those modes of cell death will decrease ASNase toxicity while preserving anticancer activity. Overall, our findings provide proof-of-concept that multi-omic analysis of drug mechanisms at the protein-, lipid-, and metabolite-levels can unveil toxicity-associated pathways that can be targeted to potentially improve a drug’s therapeutic index.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ian Edwards (LC/TQ Product Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Ian holds a Ph.D. from the Centre for Proteome Research at the University of Liverpool.He has spent time as a pre- and post-sales MS applications specialist focused on MS imaging and proteomics, as a field marketing manager for -omics, and as a global pharmaceutical marketing manager. Ian joined Agilent recently as LC/TQ Product Manager.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Philip Lorenzi, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
I’m an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. My laboratory focuses on the development of metabolic therapies for the treatment of cancer (with an emphasis on nutrient metabolism), and I’m also Director of the Proteomics Core Facility and Director of the Metabolomics Core Facility. I’ve co-authored 71 peer-reviewed publications. I co-wrote and was Co-Investigator on a successfully completed $4.5M CPRIT Core Facility Award, managed staff and the budget, and oversaw development of bioanalytical services using current equipment and protocols that we have optimized thoroughly. We’ve developed novel mass spectrometry-based methods for: 1) increasing the accuracy of glutamine and glutamate measurements by minimizing in-source conversion to pyroglutamate; 2) normalizing data based on the DNA content of cell- and tissue-based samples; 3) measuring amino acids from as little as 2 µL of mouse plasma or whole blood; 4) detection of over 2,000 annotated metabolites and lipids per biological sample (including just 2 mg of tissue); 5) stable isotope tracer analyses in vitro and in vivo including methods for measuring energy metabolism; 6) determining the extent and position of 13C incorporation into specific amino acids; and 7) diagnosing and correcting batch effects in metabolomic data. Our multidisciplinary team provides full service contract research in a state-of-the art facility.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Multi-Omic, Mass Spectrometry-Based Elucidation of Mech. of L-asparaginase Toxicity in a Mouse Model

Multi-Omic, Mass Spectrometry-Based Elucidation of Mech. of L-asparaginase Toxicity in a Mouse Model

We analyzed the extracts using a multi-omic, bioanalytical LC/MS platform capable of measuring 500+ metabolites, 750+ lipids, and 375 peptides.

Multi-Omic, Mass Spectrometry-Based Elucidation of Mech

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a commonly used technique in the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing sectors to determine the concentration and purity of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or to measure process related residuals and formulation components. In biopharmaceuticals manufacturing or formulation, polysorbates or poloxamers are commonly present either as process related residuals or as formulation components.
The detection and quantitation of these compounds can be a challenge due to their lack of a chromophore which makes traditional UV detection impossible and interference from proteinaceous APIs. This presentation reviews the development and validation strategies of a robust method for the quantitation of poloxamer P188 in biopharmaceuticals. The method uses charged aerosol detection (CAD) on the Thermo Vanquish Flex HPLC system and has suitable sensitivity to quantitate poloxamer P188 down to 3 µg/mL in both AAV and mAb APIs. 
The method is specific in that it is capable of quantitating poloxamer P188 in common formulations and demonstrates non-interference from polysorbate-80 and PEI.
Join our webinar on Tuesday, July 11th at 15:00 CEST (14:00 GMT, 06:00 PDT, 09:00 EDT) to hear about the work of our guest speaker, Adam Punke, from PPD, Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. In his presentation, he will share his experience of the development and validation strategies of a robust method for the quantitation of poloxamer P188 in biopharmaceuticals.
<h5>Learning points:</h5>
<ul>
<li>What makes charged aerosol detection so powerful</li>
<li>What benefits it offers</li>
<li>What applications are ideal for charged aerosol detection?</li>
</ul>
<h5>Who should attend:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Laboratory managers and directors</li>
<li>Technology leaders</li>
<li>Principal scientists</li>
<li>Laboratory analysts</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Adam Punke (Guest Speaker, Sr. Research Scientist, PPD, Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Chris Tuczemskyi (Moderator, Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Chris Tuczemskyi is a chromatography specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Cambridge, UK. After spending a number of years building up his experience with chromatography instruments in a water testing laboratory, he joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2014 as a chromatography service engineer for Unity Lab Services. Here he developed his passion for supporting customers using HPLC and in 2018 moved into the application specialist team. More recently, in 2022 he made the move to Product Marketing to help ensure we meet and exceed our customers expectation. In 2009, Chris graduated from the University of Essex in Biochemistry (Bsc Hons).
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ian Acworth (Analytical Instruments Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Ian Acworth is part of the marketing team at Thermo Fisher Scientific, based near Boston, Massachusetts. He directed application chemistry development for several HPLC companies while ensuring a strong focus on customer needs and support. He was part of the team that developed and supported the Charged Aerosol Detector. Ian completed his D. Phil in biochemistry at Oxford University in 1986 and completed his postdoctoral studies in neuroscience at MIT in 1989.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Frank Steiner (Senior Manager of Product Applications, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Frank Steiner is Senior Manager of Product Applications and coordinates HPLC based scientific collaborations in Thermo Fisher Scientific as scientific advisor. He joined Dionex Corporation in 2005, now a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, and had been manager in various HPLC marketing functions. Frank received his PhD degree in chemistry in 1995 from Saarland University in Saarbruecken, Germany where he became assistant professor in 1997 and associate professor in 2003, after his postdoc at the nuclear research center in Saclay, France in 1996. Frank published more than 30 publications in refereed journals and more than 10 text book chapters on HPLC topics.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Katherine Lovejoy (Product Application Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Katherine Lovejoy, Ph.D., has been an application chemist focusing on charged aerosol detection at the Thermo Fisher Scientific HPLC factory site since 2016 and has a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has experience as a chemist reviewer at the FDA and as a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
</blockquote>

Thermo Scientific: Quantitation of Poloxamer P188 in Biopharmaceutical Formulations Using Charged Aerosol Detection

Quantitation of Poloxamer P188 in Biopharmaceutical Formulations Using Charged Aerosol Detection

We will share his experience of the development and validation strategies of a robust method for the quantitation of poloxamer P188 in biopharmaceuticals.

Quantitation of Poloxamer P188 in Biopharmaceutical by CAD

How about a 20 minute coffee break along with a bite of Empower? Here you go!
Empower custom fields and Excel in Empower LMS - not a conflict of interest?
Excel Compliance is designed as the solution for customers operating in a regulated environment to use excel spreadsheet with confidence. It provides full audit trail that is compliant to regulatory requirements for electronic records and signatures. 
<ul>
<li>Mitigate the compliance risk of traditional uncontrolled spreadsheets and documents
</li>
<li>Enhanced compliance features such as:
<ul>
<li>authorized access control
</li>
<li>automated version control
</li>
<li>document level and cell by cell audit trails
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Centralize and secure laboratory spreadsheets and documents for use in a regulated environment
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ralf Schröder (Informatics Product Marketing Europe·Waters GesmbH)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Excel and Compliance in Empower LMS

Excel and Compliance in Empower LMS

Empower custom fields and Excel in Empower LMS

For therapeutic antibodies and emerging gene-based medicines, light scattering techniques provide multi-attribute quantification (MAQ) and hence play a critical role in product and process development as well as quality control.
Size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS) is employed throughout the development cycle of the protein therapeutics for bioanalytical characterization.
In addition, SEC-MALS offers a platform method for quantifying multiple quality attributes of AAV-delivered gene therapy products including titer, payload and aggregate content as well as extended biophysical characterization. In the webinar, we share some case studies using XBridge Premier BEH SEC columns combined with light scattering as a platform approach applied to these different pharmaceutical analytes.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Leo Liu, Ph.D. (Application Scientist, Waters-Wyatt Technology)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Successful SEC-MALS analysis of proteins and AAVs

Successful SEC-MALS analysis of proteins and AAVs

Case studies using XBridge Premier BEH SEC columns combined with light scattering as a platform approach applied to these different pharmaceutical analytes.

In the world of protein formulations, just one poorly behaved excipient can ruin your day… and your dataset. The wrong excipient can promote unfolding or aggregation, so having a big toolbox handy to test how a formulation behaves can save the day. Uncle’s unique combination of fluorescence, SLS, DLS and wide variety of applications means the right tool for the job is always handy – thermal stability, isothermal experiments, kD &amp; B22, G22 and more. Uncle even has a tool for those unruly excipients that throw a wrench in your data by interfering with your protein’s intrinsic fluorescence. Uncle’s full-spectrum fluorescence detection sees fluorescence issues, lets you diagnose what’s going on and helps you solve the problem by changing up your analysis.&nbsp;This talk will look at the many tools Uncle can use to screen formulations for their impact on protein stability, and how Uncle helps you keep an eye out for any nasty surprises that oddball excipients can throw your way.<blockquote>Presenter:&nbsp;Andre Mueller, PhD (Marketing Manager, Biologic Solutions, Unchained Labs)Andre Mueller, PhD, is the Product Manager for Aunty and Honeybun at Unchained Labs, where he supports the development of biologic and gene therapy drugs. He specializes in fluorescence, static and dynamic light scattering, focusing on biophysical characterization of proteins and viral vectors. His research background spans from structural biology to plant physiology, with experience in labs across Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and the USA. Andre earned his PhD at the Carlsberg Laboratory and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.Moderator: Kevin Lance, PhD (Marketing Manager, Analytical Instruments, Unchained Labs)</blockquote>

Unchained Labs: Build up your protein formulation toolbox with Uncle

Build up your protein formulation toolbox with Uncle

Uncle helps spot excipient issues early with tools like fluorescence, SLS, and DLS—keeping your protein formulations stable and your data clean.