ASMS CONFERENCE ORALS 2024

Significance of the Topic

Modern analytical chemistry relies on mass spectrometry (MS) and complementary separation and ionization techniques to tackle complex biological, environmental and industrial challenges. High-resolution MS, ion mobility, imaging modalities and advanced data-driven workflows have become essential for metabolomics, proteomics, glycomics, forensics, food safety and drug discovery. This program underscores the critical role of MS innovations in driving new insights across disciplines and accelerating application in research, quality control and clinical diagnostics.

Objectives and Overview of the Program

This conference document presents the parallel oral session schedule, Monday through Thursday. Sessions are organized by thematic tracks—metabolomics, glycoproteomics, ion mobility, imaging MS, proteomics, microbiome analysis, environmental monitoring, MS fundamentals, clinical applications, drug metabolism and biopharmaceutical characterization—each featuring leading experts discussing novel methodologies, instrument developments and real-world applications.

Methods and Instrumentation

Key techniques highlighted across sessions include:

• Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI, MALDI-2, MALDI-IHC) and DESI imaging for spatially resolved analyses
• Liquid chromatography-MS/MS (LC-MS/MS) with data-dependent/acquisition (DDA, DIA, SWATH) and targeted modes (MRM, PRM)
• Ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS, SLIM, TWIMS, FAIMS) coupled to high-resolution TOF, Orbitrap and FT-ICR analyzers
• Ambient ionization methods (LD-REIMS, REIMS, MasSpec Pen, triboelectric plasma, LA-REIMS)
• Native and top-down MS for intact protein complexes and proteoform analysis
• Charge detection MS (CD-MS) for viral particles and high-mass assemblies
• Advanced fragmentation strategies (EAD, EThcD, AI-NETD, UVPD, CID, SID)
• Computational and AI-driven data analysis pipelines for spectral annotation, de novo sequencing and multiomics integration

Main Results and Discussion

Presentations showcased breakthroughs in high-throughput profiling of metabolites and proteins, spatial multiomics in tissues, single-cell MS, deep learning for spectral prediction, enhanced isomer separations, crosslinking for structural biology, exposome analyses, non-targeted pollutant screening and robust clinical assays. Case studies ranged from biomarker discovery in oncology and neurodegeneration to environmental PFAS monitoring, food contaminant detection and real-time process control in biomanufacturing.

Contributions and Practical Applications of the Method

Advances enable:

• Faster, more sensitive detection of low-abundance analytes in biofluids and tissues
• High-resolution spatial mapping of metabolites, lipids and proteins in health and disease
• Quantitative multi-omics workflows for drug metabolism, toxicology and personalized medicine
• Automated, multiplexed assays for vaccine and biotherapeutic characterization
• Integration of ambient and high-throughput MS into industrial quality control and environmental monitoring

Future Trends and Applications

Emerging directions include deeper integration of AI and machine learning for real-time MS control, expansion of single-cell and spatial omics, development of compact mobile MS platforms for field use, enhanced multiplexing via novel labeling chemistries, and stronger coupling of MS with structural biology and cryo-EM.

Conclusion

This program reflects the rapid evolution of mass spectrometry technologies and data analytics, illustrating their broad impact on analytical chemistry. Continued innovation in instrumentation, workflows and computational tools promises to further expand the frontiers of multi-omics research and its applications in health, environment and industry.

Used Instrumentation

• MALDI (standard, MALDI-2, MALDI-IHC) and DESI imaging platforms
• High-resolution Orbitrap, Q-TOF and FT-ICR mass analyzers
• Tribrid mass spectrometers with extended m/z quadrupole and CD-MS capability
• Ion mobility cells: TIMS, SLIM, FAIMS, TWIMS
• Ambient ion sources: LD-REIMS, MasSpec Pen, AC-ESI, triboelectric plasma
• Integrated LC-MS systems with micro/nano flow and SPE-CZE coupling
• Automated sample preparation robotics and microfluidics

References

No specific literature references were provided in the source text.