A FULL-SERVICE MOLECULAR OMICS SHARED RESOURCE FACILITY OFFERING STREAMLINED WORKFLOWS, CUTTING-EDGE RESOURCES, AND A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT ALLOWS YOU TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST.

Overview of Services

The CIT focuses on metabolomics and lipidomics-based analyses and provides the infrastructure and expertise to measure both untargeted (discovery) and targeted (validation, quantification) small molecules derived from biospecimens such as cells, tissues, biofluids, and many others.

Our research facility places an emphasis on the use and development of numerous separation technologies coupled to MS including hydrophobic/hydrophilic liquid chromatography (RPLC and HILIC) and ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Our technologies are supported by current state-of-the-art informatics and data analysis software.

The CIT offers a wide range of services including, but not limited to:

• Global untargeted omics analyses (using MS and ion mobility-MS techniques)

• Global, untargeted metabolomics is hypothesis-generating and typically performed to collect and analyze all detectable metabolites in a sample. As a discovery approach, it can reveal novel compounds and chemical unknowns potentially leading to new insights in disease mechanism or treatment. In an effort to communicate the confidence of annotation and identification results for known features in global, untargeted metabolomics studies, we use an evidence-based classification system based on metabolite identification discussions in the metabolomics community.

• Targeted omics analyses

• Targeted metabolomics enables validation and absolute quantification of a subset of metabolites (e.g., metabolites within a specific pathway). We have several established targeted assay panels available.

• This method can also be used to complement a global, untargeted approach.

• The CIT has recently developed protocols to profile all 22 proteinogenic amino acids in plasma, serum, urine, cells, and tissue. All analytes and Internal Standards are measured on a high-resolution mass spectrometer using a targeted method and reported as normalized to heavy labeled internal standards. Coefficients of variation are generally 10%.

• Lipidomics

• Global, untargeted methods have been optimized to detect numerous lipid classes. 

• High-content screening microscopy

• Sample preparation

• Biostatistical services in collaboration with the Center for Quanitative Services at Vanderbilt.

• Custom method development

• Data processing, analysis, and interpretation

• Our full-service facility provides data processing (e.g., data alignment, feature detection), feature prioritization (e.g., principal component analysis, heat maps, ANOVA/t-test, multivariate statistical analysis, self organizing maps, volcano plots, and network activity prediction), and metabolite identification services (see explanation of metabolite identification confidence levels).

• Instrument & data analysis training

• Grant application and manuscript support

Leadership

Prof. John A. McLean
Director
john.a.mclean@vanderbilt.edu

Dr. Stacy D. Sherrod
Executive Director
stacy.d.sherrod@vanderbilt.edu

Hours of Operation and Location

Hours	Location
Monday - Friday  9:00 am - 5:00 pm	7300 Stevenson Center Lane Nashville, TN 37235 Stevenson Center, Room 5401   Vanderbilt Campus Map Search ‘Stevenson Center Complex’

Links and Resources

1. Please click here to access the Center for Innovative Technology website.
2. Please click here to access our biological sample handling and storage guidelines.
3. Please click here to access Skyline.
4. Please click here to access MetaboAnalyst 3.0.
5. Please click here to access XCMS online.

 

Contacts

Name	Role	Phone	Email	Location
Stacy D. Sherrod, Ph.D.	Executive Director		stacy.d.sherrod@vanderbilt.edu	SC 5419B

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