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The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has received two grants totaling nearly $3.6 million from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to acquire a next-generation mass spectrometer for molecular research and a cutting-edge two-photon 3D printing system for precision biofabrication. The investments, through MLSC’s Research Infrastructure Program, will significantly expand the university’s research, training and industry collaboration capabilities.

The IALS Mass Spectrometry Core Facility has received a $1.98 million award for a timsTOF fleX mass spectrometer from Bruker Scientific. The instrument will enhance “omics” research across a range of disciplines by enabling highly sensitive and detailed studies in proteomics, metabolomics and spatialomics—fields that examine how proteins, metabolites and other molecules change in response to factors such as disease, environmental exposure and medical treatments.

The new system offers unprecedented speed and sensitivity, allowing researchers to analyze complex biological samples using far less material than previously required. It also enables spatialomics studies that visualize the distribution of molecules within tissues, a capability critical for evaluating how next-generation therapies target tumors and other disease sites.

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“This mass spectrometer will allow us to do molecular histology faster, better and more sensitively than ever before,” says Richard Vachet, professor of chemistry. “We’ll be able to use it to generate hundreds of images of molecules all at the same time, so that we can better track therapeutic delivery systems and their biochemical effects in tissues.”

As the only high-end mass spectrometry core facility in Western Massachusetts, the center will also serve researchers from neighboring institutions and provide hands-on training with industry-standard technology, helping prepare students for careers in biotechnology and biopharmaceutical research.

A second award of over $1.58 million will support the acquisition of an UpNano NanoOne Bio two-photon polymerization direct laser writing 3D printer and related characterization tools for the Advanced Digital Design and Fabrication Core Facility (ADDFab) at IALS. The project is led by Sunandita Sarker, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, in collaboration with faculty and facility leadership at IALS.

The system enables the fabrication of complex three-dimensional structures with submicron precision, allowing applications that were previously impossible with conventional manufacturing techniques. Researchers will be able to produce biocompatible polymers, hydrogels and functional microdevices for use in biomedical devices, biosensors, micro-robotics and organ-on-chip models.

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“This technology bridges the gap between submicron-scale design and real-world medical translation,” Sarker says. “It allows us to miniaturize medical devices to reduce patient trauma, customize tools for biomedical applications, and integrate sensing and therapeutic functions directly into the devices we manufacture.”

The new 3D printing system will also support regional economic development by expanding access to precision fabrication for startups and small businesses, while serving as a training hub for undergraduate and graduate students and external users.

Together, the two MLSC-funded investments reinforce UMass Amherst’s role as a regional hub for life sciences research, advanced manufacturing and workforce development, while supporting innovation and economic growth throughout the commonwealth.