The ultimate goal of our research is to better understand lipid metabolism and the active role lipids play in diabetes, stroke, cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's and other lipid-based diseases in order to facilitate development of more effective treatments.

LIPID Metabolites And Pathways Strategy (LIPID MAPS_®) is a multi-institutional effort created in 2003 to identify and quantitate, using a systems biology approach and sophisticated mass spectrometers, all of the major - and many minor - lipid species in mammalian cells, as well as to quantitate the changes in these species in response to perturbation.

Since our inception, we have made great strides toward defining the "lipidome" (an inventory of the thousands of individual lipid molecular species) in the mouse macrophage. We have also worked to make lipid analysis easier and more accessible for the broader scientific community and to advance a robust research infrastructure for the international research community.

We share new lipidomics findings and methods, hold annual meetings open to all interested investigators, and are exploring joint efforts to extend the use of these powerful new methods to new application.

Our laboratory houses two AB Sciex Q-Trap instruments (4000, 6500) and a ThermoFisher Orbitrap Elite, that are available for collaborative studies at a low cost.

Core facility

Mass spectrometry and chromatography

Our facility houses three mass spectrometers which are fully geared up towards lipidomic analysis.

Techniques are available to separate, identify and quantify complex mixtures of lipids from a vast range of biological samples. Global lipidomics is also available on our accurate mass instrument.

Equipment

Sample processing

• Technician support is available to extract lipids from your biological samples using optimised protocols.
• Beadruptor technology is available allowing us to process a wide range of tissues, including bone.
• The facility is equipped with a Tecan liquid handling robot for high sample throughput.

LC/MS

Triple Quad Q trap mass spectrometry

• Sciex 4000 Q trap (ES ionisation)
• Sciex 6500 Q trap (ES ionisation)

Accurate mass FTMS

• Thermo LTQ Velos Orbitrap (ES ionisation)

Analytical and technical services

We provide analytical and technical services through our experts in data acquisition and interpretation with access to a varied range of analytical equipment.

Whether it is just analysis of a single sample that is required, or more comprehensive analysis of many samples using multiple techniques, we are ideally placed to provide the answers you need.

You may be an experienced biochemist and know exactly the information you want, but if not, we could help you to identify what you need to know and how to achieve your aims.

To discuss your requirements, please contact:

Dr Victoria Tyrrell
Lipidomics Facility Manager
+44 (0)29 2068 7309
tyrrellvj@cardiff.ac.uk