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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Three Webinars and a Roundtable with Experts from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Metrohm &amp; Mettler Toledo
A Week Dedicated to Karl Fischer Titration!
Karl Fischer titration is still the most used, most accurate, and fastest method to determine water content in all kinds of sample matrices. This titration week covers different aspects that need to be considered when determining the water content in products, raw materials, and other substances. Experts from the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Metrohm AG, and Mettler Toledo will present and discuss different steps of the Karl Fischer titration process and how to improve it. Learnings include:
<ul>
<li>Karl Fischer titration process and tips for how to improve it</li>
<li>Karl Fischer oven method and its advantages</li>
<li>Reference materials to use for titer determination, instrument check, and result verification</li>
<li>Parameters needed to validate a Karl Fischer titration application</li>
<li>News and future aspects of Karl Fischer titration</li>
</ul>
<h3>Live Roundtable Expert Discussion (Karl Fisher Titration Week)</h3>
Together with our partners Metrohm and Mettler Toledo, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will discuss the trends and key aspects of Karl Fischer titration. We will come back on some questions asked during the earlier three webinars, as well as answering new questions during the roundtable discussion. 
This live event will be moderated by Separation Science and participants will include Bettina Straub-Jubb, Dr. Shailly Krishna Rajusth, and Angela Schwehn from Merck Life Science KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Dr. Leila Mosberger from Mettler-Toledo, and Michael Margreth from Metrohm AG.

Live Roundtable Expert Discussion (Karl Fisher Titration Week)

We will discuss the trends and key aspects of Karl Fischer titration.

Live Roundtable Expert Discussion (Karl Fisher Titration)

This presentation will focus on our use of a RapidFire 400 High Throughput Mass Spectrometry system coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, to build and implement a single platform for the rapid biochemical characterization of multiple biological enzyme targets.
Because of the high sample throughput compared to traditional LC-MS/MS, we can comprehensively characterize the activity of multiple enzymes across a variety of substrates including biologically relevant substrates (e.g. oligonucleosomes) and tailor our Medicinal Chemistry small molecule compound design efforts to target the enzyme activity of interest. Employing a single platform with internal redundancy, enables us to both quickly and confidently develop suites of assays within and across multiple enzyme classes, without many of the limitations present with other technologies.
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Presenter: Patrick J. Bingham (Senior Scientist, Pfizer)
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: RapidFire affords extreme versatility in one platform for detecting reaction analytes across a diverse group of enzyme targets

RapidFire affords extreme versatility in one platform for detecting reaction analytes across a diverse group of enzyme targets

This presentation will focus on our use of a RapidFire 400 High Throughput Mass Spectrometry system coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

Reaction analytes across a diverse group of enzyme targets

<h3>Part 1: Overview of Agilent Biopharma</h3>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mike Knierman (Biopharma Workflow Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<h3>Part 2: Analytical Innovations to Speed-up Antibody Characterization</h3>
The characterization biotherapeutics is essential to assess their safety, quality, and efficacy. In this presentation, we show novel technologies that can address the growing demand for comprehensive and faster characterization of multi-specific antibodies. In the first example, Mobile Affinity Selection Chromatography is used to rapidly assess antibody titer and aggregation levels of crude culture filtrate. We take advantage of this method for unbiased analysis of mispaired chains and aggregates directly from culture supernatants obviating a protein A clean-up step. We show fast aggregate and titer molecular structure quantifications without sample preparation can be achieved with multi-sampler overlapped injections, dramatically improving analysis throughput (~ 2.5 min per sample) without carryover. In the second example, mAb digestion process (&gt; 30 min) is accelerated on the surface of microdroplets (&lt;1 ms) (Anal. Chem., 2021, 93, 3997-4005). We show automated microdroplet reactions under native-pH conditions by combining programmed flow injection with a JetStream ionization source. Intact subunit mass analysis and middle-down characterization of antibody subunits are completed every 2 min. (Anal. Chem., 2023, 95, 3340-3348). Finally, we propose droplet reactions every 2-4 seconds per antibody sample using RapidFire BLAZE mode for ultrafast sample introduction and digestion. We envision, that these analytical innovations will enable comprehensive and faster analysis of biotherapeutics.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Harsha Gunawardena, Ph.D. (Senior Scientist, Mass Spectrometry, Janssen Research &amp; Development, The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &amp; Johnson)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Harsha Gunawardena obtained his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry from University of North Carolina. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Lineberger comprehensive cancer center, UNC school of medicine where his research focused on refining quantitative platforms for large-scale clinical proteomics and proteogenomic analysis. He was a co-investigator for the NCI clinical proteomics tumor analysis consortium (CPTAC), the ENCODE consortium. His industry career as scientist started at Bayer Health Care providing mass spectrometry and bioanalytical support of plasma-based therapeutics. He later worked at Amgen applying proteomics methods to support biomarker programs and discovery programs in oncology and inflammation. In his current role at Janssen R&amp;D, Johnson &amp; Johnson, he supports discovery early development programs that span several therapeutic modalities.
</blockquote>
<h3>Part 3: Towards the Absolute Quantitation of the Human Proteome: Next Generation of Absolute Protein Quantitation in Biological Matrixes; Higher Multiplexicity While Faster, Robust and Sensitive</h3>
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Presenter: Christoph Borchers, Ph.D. (Professor, Department Oncology, McGill University; CSO, MRM Proteomics)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Professor in the Department of Oncology at McGill University, and holds the Segal Chair in Molecular Oncology. His research involves proteomics and metabolomics technologies for clinical diagnostics and structural proteomics. He is also head of a newly established Omics laboratory for personalized medicine and health at Skoltech, Moscow, Russia.
</blockquote>

Accelerating Analysis in the BioPharma Laboratory

Overview of Agilent Biopharma. Analytical Innovations to Speed-up Antibody Characterization. Absolute Protein Quantitation in Biological Matrixes.

First of all, Lakshmanan Deenadayalan will present a sensitive method for the quantification of formoterol – a drug used to treat asthma and COPD – in human plasma.
Then, Eshani Nandita will introduce a sensitive multiplexed quantification of two commonly co-administered mAbs using the ZenoTOF 7600 system with SCIEX OS software.
Finally, Ian Moore will show us how to achieve increased sensitivity for quantification in complex matrices using the SCIEX 7500 system.
At the end of the presentations, you will be able to interact with the speakers and ask any questions.
Attend this webinar to:
<ul>
<li>Meet front-end technology that improves your quantitative mass spectrometry methods</li>
<li>Achieve ultra-low quantification levels for compounds in human plasma using a simple liquid-liquid extraction sample preparation</li>
<li>Reach LLOQs of 0.15 µg/mL for the quantification of monoclonal antibodies in human serum with a QTOF instrument</li>
<li>Explore lower dosage, higher efficacy compounds and improve the efficiency of bioanalysis in negative mode</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ian Moore (Senior Technical Product Manager, Nominal Mass SCIEX)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lakshmanan Deenadayalan (Application Support Specialist, Indian Innovation Center (IIC) SCIEX)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Eshani Nandita (Global Biopharma Quant Tech Marketing Lead, SCIEX)
</blockquote>

Pixabay/Gerd Altmann: Inside the Tech Note: The Story Behind the Data

Inside the Tech Note: The Story Behind the Data

In this webinar, hear three LC/MS Tech Note authors present their work and explain the genesis of their research.

Agilent&#39;s Cary 3500 Flexible UV-VIS Spectrometer provides the accuracy and reliability needed for meeting compliance standards.
This presentation will discuss an overview of the instrument&#39;s newest functions as well as the software&#39;s ability to maintain data integrity through Agilent&#39;s OpenLab Platform.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Scott Melis, PhD (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Scott Melis has a PHD in Physics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and started with Agilent in 2021 as a Molecular Spectroscopy Application Scientist. In his graduate work, Scott studied nanoparticle formation and growth for a variety of applications. Projects that he worked with include developing processes to deposit and characterize semiconducting molecular nano-cocrystals for use in optoelectronic devices as well as controlling polymer nanoparticle size through rapid mixing conditions.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Meeting 21 CFR 11 Compliance with the Cary 3500 Flexible UV-VIS Spectrometer

Meeting 21 CFR 11 Compliance with the Cary 3500 Flexible UV-VIS Spectrometer

We will discuss an overview of the instrument's newest functions as well as the software's ability.

Meeting 21 CFR 11 Compliance with the Cary 3500 UV-VIS

This meeting covers the latest trends and techniques to meet current water and environmental testing demands for emerging contaminants and evolving regulations. Our guest speakers from the water industry and environmental research and testing laboratories will share their expertise on their latest work, analytical workflows, and automation.
Join us and discover valuable insights to maximise testing productivity and instrument uptime, simplify workflows and standardise data workup.
<h3>June 27 (Day 1) Emerging contaminants</h3>
This session will explore PFAS, microplastics, untargeted screening, automation and sample preparation.
Attend the whole day or selected presentations only.
<h5>10:00 Online access opens (Streaming begins 09:30 BST/10:30 CEST)</h5>
<h5>10:30 Opening of the event, welcome and introduction</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Jeff Stubbs (Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li>
</ul>
<h5>10:50 Screening of unknowns using Thermo Scientific Orbitrap MS and Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer software</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Janine Elliot (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)</li>
</ul>
<h5>11:20 Biotoxins, seafood safety and mass spectrometry</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Ben Maskrey (Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)</li>
</ul>
<h5>11:50 Determination of microplastics with pyrolysis and GC-MS</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Dr. Michael Soll (Frontier Lab Europe)</li>
</ul>
<h5>12:20 Break</h5>
<h5>12:40 What combustion ion chromatography sum parameter analysis can do for the analysis of PFAS</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Dr. Lewis Mark (A1-envirosciences Limited)</li>
</ul>
<h5>13:10 Use of Thermo Scientific Exploris 120 Orbitrap HRAM-LC-MS for the analysis of 47 PFAS compounds in UK waters</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: John Quick (ALS Environmental Ltd.)</li>
</ul>
<h5>13:40 Workshop - new untargeted PFAS analysis workflow capabilities within Compound Discoverer software</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Frans Schoutsen (Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li>
</ul>
<h5>14:10 Break</h5>
<h5>15:10 Starting your voyage into PFAS? Tools and protocols to succeed</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Ed George (Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li>
</ul>
<h5>16:10 Workshop - new approaches in performing automation by GC (and LC)</h5>
<ul>
<li>Presenter: Dan Carrier (Thermo Fisher Scientific)</li>
</ul>
<h5>16:30 Closing of the live streaming event</h5>

Thermo Scientific: Water & Environmental Analysis User Meeting - Day 1

Water & Environmental Analysis User Meeting - Day 1

Streaming live from our Demo Centre in Hemel Hempstead | Join the complete event or the presentations of your choice only.

How about a 20 minute coffee break along with a bite of Empower? Here you go!
What you can learn: 
<ul>
<li>What&#39;s the difference between Archive and Backup and why do you need both</li>
<li>The cheapest, the fastest, or the most definitive data management strategy is meaningless if the data is untrustworthy</li>
<li>How including a complementary archive strategy to your existing backup will not only improve efficiency, but can reduce costs and regulatory risk</li>
<li>How both approaches are viable and the business value each one can offer</li>
</ul>
Register and prepare a coffee!
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ralf Schröder (Informatics Product Marketing Europe·Waters GesmbH)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Waters Informatics series #5: Archive vs Backup (Po2)

Waters Informatics series #5: Archive vs Backup (Po2)

What's the difference between Archive and Backup and why do you need both?

As a continuation of our Chromatography of Bioseparations 101 series, we bring to you 2 NEW SESSIONS in our Chromatography of Bioseparations 102 webinar series! Join us live for our new parts 6 and 7. If you haven&#39;t had an opportunity to register for Parts 1-5, feel free to regster and listen to them on-demand now.
These new webinars will focus on the analytical separation of biomolecules such as peptides and amino acids.
Reverse-phase chromatography is the predominant technique used for the analyses and or purification of chemically synthesized peptides or peptides generated by the enzymatic digestion of proteins (i.e., peptide mapping). It is advantageous to have a simplified step-by-step approach to develop a method that can be applied to chemically synthesized peptides or protein digests.
Amino acid analysis is required in several different areas of research and is a fundamental tool in various product analytical activities. Due to the varied properties of amino acids (i.e., acidic, basic, etc.), the separation and detection represents an analytical challenge and depending on throughput, sample preparation can be laborious. 
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>Those interested in a refresher on foundational principles and tips of reverse phase separations of peptides.</li>
<li>Those interested in how to select columns and mobile phases that are optimal for peptide and amino acid workflows.</li>
<li>Those looking for an overview of industry advancements and new offerings.</li>
</ul>
<h3>PART 7 | June 27th, 2023 | 10:30AM – 12:00PM EDT</h3>
<h3>UNDERSTANDING AMINO ACID ANALYSIS FOR PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES AND CELL CULTURE MEDIA</h3>
<ul>
<li>Understand the challenges of sample preparation, separation, and detection of amino acids in different matrices.</li>
<li>Review analytical techniques that addresses the challenges of amino acid analysis.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Paula Phenix (Principal Product Manager – Consumables and Lab Automation, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Paula is a Principal Marketing Manager at Waters with a focus on Waters products for amino acid and glycan analysis. Prior to her current role in the Chemistry and Lab Automation Group, she was the Product Marketing Manager for Specialty LC and SFC Systems in the Instruments group. Before joining Waters, she held product management, marketing and sales roles for several companies (Life Technologies, Promega, MilliporeSigma) in the molecular biology, immunology, cell culture and single-use bioprocessing areas. Paula graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and from Johns Hopkins University with a Masters Degree in Business.
</blockquote>

UNDERSTANDING AMINO ACID ANALYSIS FOR PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES AND CELL CULTURE MEDIA

Understand the challenges of sample preparation, separation, and detection of amino acids in different matrices.

UNDERSTANDING AMINO ACID ANALYSIS

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 3 | Things to Consider When Configuring Purification Systems and Informatics</h3>
Preparative chromatography is a separation technique where one or more peaks are collected for use in another experiment or process.
In this module, we will discuss the various hardware options available, from pumps and injectors through detection techniques to fraction collection. We’ll also touch on some of the software options available and look at different schemes for triggering fraction collection. 
Learning Objectives: 
<ul>
<li>Understand various instrument configuration and the impact on purification</li>
<li>Optimize system performance</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Darcy Shave (Senior Product Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Darcy Shave is currently aprincipalproduct manager in the Integrated Systems group atWaters Corporation (Milford, MA, USA), responsible for the purification and hardwareautomation products. Darcy has been with Waters for over 20 years, starting as anapplications chemist in the purification group. From there, he moved into a variety ofbusiness development roles before becoming a product manager for purification softwareabout 10 years ago and more recently for the entire purification portfolio.​
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
He has a degree in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan and workedin value added processing of natural products before joining Waters.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Things to Consider When Configuring Purification Systems and Informatics

Things to Consider When Configuring Purification Systems and Informatics

We will discuss the various hardware options available, from pumps and injectors through detection techniques to fraction collection.

When Configuring Purification Systems and Informatics

On December 1, 2022 a harmonized standard for General Chapter 621 Chromatography was released. This standard incorporates the USP with 2.2.46. Chromatographic Separation Techniques European Pharmacopoeia (EuPh) and 2.01 Liquid Chromatography Japanese Pharmacopeia (JP) texts. Harmonization of these regulatory guidance provides increased method flexibility through the employment of modernized of chromatographic tools without the need for full monograph re-validation.
The extent to which the various parameters of a compendial chromatographic test may be adjusted without fundamentally modifying the pharmacopeial analytical procedures is defined in U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter 621 Chromatography.
In this presentation, we combine the gradient method adjustments described in this chapter to achieve both column and system modernization for the USP monograph separation of antiviral drug abacavir sulfate. 
<h5>Key Learning Objectives:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Learn how to modernize the HPLC column and reduce operation costs using the USP 621 allowable adjustments</li>
<li>Learn how to modernize the LC platform and further reduce operation costs using the USP 621 allowable adjustments</li>
<li>Leverage Empower CDS fields to apply the updated chromatography reporting calculations</li>
</ul>
<h5>Who Should Attend:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Scientists and lab managers involved with compendial methods with a drive towards modernization, productivity and compliance.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Catharine Layton (Principal Scientist, Scientific Operations, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Modernizing LC Methods as per Harmonized USP Chapter 621

Modernizing LC Methods as per Harmonized USP Chapter 621

We combine the gradient method adjustments described in this chapter to achieve both column and system modernization for the USP monograph.