Renewal Proposal for a high-resolution Ion Mobility Separation Time-of-Flight Mass Spec-trometer

• Subject Area: Microbiology, Virology and Immunology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 583903965

We request funding for the upgrade of a high-resolution tandem mass spectrometer from its present to the next-generation instrument version, to be operated at the Core Facility Translational Proteomics at the University of Bonn. The instrument currently serves as the central platform for high-throughput proteomics analyses, particularly for complex human-derived samples such as blood plasma, other biofluids, and tissue biopsies. Since the implementation of this Core Facility, the demand for clinical proteomics has increased constantly and the unique services have attracted customers beyond the University of Bonn, and beyond academia. An upgrade to a state-of-the-art mass spectrometric system that combines classic high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry with trapped ion mobility spectrometry will improve ion mobility, sensitivity, and dynamic range for greater proteomics depths. Acquisition speeds will be enhanced for shorter chromatographic gradients and a higher sample throughput, and will decrease the currently long waiting times for customers. Specifically, immuno-peptidomics workflows profit from the upgrade. Lastly, the computation-based platform will enable automated performance monitoring and immediate data processing of newly acquired mass spectrometric data. These improvements will allow deeper proteome coverage, increased throughput, and reliable analysis of limited or low-abundance samples, supporting translational research and biomarker discovery. The instrument operation is secured through dedicated, experienced personnel and suitable laboratory infrastructure, with an expected 6,000 hours of annual operation. Sustainability is ensured via longer instrument lifetime, efficient usage, and minimized sample loss. The upgraded instrument will primarily serve research projects in clinical cohort studies, immunoproteomics, and biomarker identification, providing essential capabilities for detecting low-abundance proteins with diagnostic and prognostic potential. Thereby, the instrument will not only support the execution of the clinical research program of the Immunosensation3 Cluster but also maintain the facility’s leading position and attraction for diverse customers in internal and collaborative projects for at least the next four years.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Massenspektrometer (Erneuerung)
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Leader: Professor Dr. Felix Meissner