Center for Innovative Technology

The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) is a state-of-the-art small molecule omics shared resource center and collaborative analytical facility specializing in a range of mass spectrometry and confocal screening techniques. The CIT can measure the complex array of small molecule metabolites present within a fluid, cell, or tissue and can identify reproducible steady state and/or temporal changes associated with disease state or drug administration for context dependent analysis.

Afterward, metabolite identifications are assigned based on high mass accuracy measurements, isotope distributions, tandem MS fragmentation patterns, and comparisons with spectral libraries and standards. Consequently, the results can reveal unique biochemical fingerprints of cellular processes specific to each sample. This can be exploited as a discovery-based approach for generating novel hypotheses or used for a better understanding of physiological processes mediated by genetic or environmental perturbations. If needed, new workflows can be established for method development, targeted biomolecule measurement acquisition, and/or metabolite validation.

We support investigators in numerous phases of the analytical pipeline and provide a number of routine and/or advanced services depending on the goals of your individual research projects.

As a full-service shared resource, we provide the following services:

  • Consultation for assistance with experimental design, explanation of service levels, biostatistician evaluation (if needed)
  • Cost estimates
  • Assistance with grant applications
  • Sample preparation
  • Method development
  • Small molecule omics analyses (discovery and/or validation workflows)
  • Data processing & interpretation (filtering “noise”, data mining/prioritization, pathway interpretation, clarification of biol. Mechanism)
  • Assistance w/ manuscripts (e.g., experimental description, response to reviewers)

For more detailed information and resources, please visit our website: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/cit/home/

To start a new project with the CIT, please submit a request in iLab: https://vanderbilt.corefacilities.org/sc/4369/vanderbilt-center-for-innovative-technology-cit-core?tab=about

To subscribe to bi-monthly CIT updates, please visit: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/cit/molecular-omics-updates/

Publications

Featured publications

  1. Isomeric and Conformational Analysis of Small Drug and Drug-Like Molecules by Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (IM-MS). Phillips ST, Dodds JN, May JC, McLean JA (2019) Methods Mol Biol : 161-178
    › Primary publication · 30848461 (PubMed)
  2. Ion mobility conformational lipid atlas for high confidence lipidomics. Leaptrot KL, May JC, Dodds JN, McLean JA (2019) Nat Commun 10(1): 985
    › Primary publication · 30816114 (PubMed) · PMC6395675 (PubMed Central)
  3. Collision cross section compendium to annotate and predict multi-omic compound identities. Picache JA, Rose BS, Balinski A, Leaptrot KL, Sherrod SD, May JC, McLean JA (2019) Chem Sci 10(4): 983-993
    › Primary publication · 30774892 (PubMed) · PMC6349024 (PubMed Central)
  4. Untargeted Molecular Discovery in Primary Metabolism: Collision Cross Section as a Molecular Descriptor in Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry. Nichols CM, Dodds JN, Rose BS, Picache JA, Morris CB, Codreanu SG, May JC, Sherrod SD, McLean JA (2018) Anal Chem 90(24): 14484-14492
    › Primary publication · 30449086 (PubMed) · PMC6819070 (PubMed Central)
  5. An Integrated, High-Throughput Strategy for Multiomic Systems Level Analysis. Gutierrez DB, Gant-Branum RL, Romer CE, Farrow MA, Allen JL, Dahal N, Nei YW, Codreanu SG, Jordan AT, Palmer LD, Sherrod SD, McLean JA, Skaar EP, Norris JL, Caprioli RM (2018) J Proteome Res 17(10): 3396-3408
    › Primary publication · 30114907 (PubMed) · PMC6469931 (PubMed Central)
  6. Chiral separation of diastereomers of the cyclic nonapeptides vasopressin and desmopressin by uniform field ion mobility mass spectrometry. Phillips ST, Dodds JN, Ellis BM, May JC, McLean JA (2018) Chem Commun (Camb) 54(68): 9398-9401
    › Primary publication · 30063231 (PubMed) · PMC6118329 (PubMed Central)
  7. Global untargeted serum metabolomic analyses nominate metabolic pathways responsive to loss of expression of the orphan metallo β-lactamase, MBLAC1. Gibson CL, Codreanu SG, Schrimpe-Rutledge AC, Retzlaff CL, Wright J, Mortlock DP, Sherrod SD, McLean JA, Blakely RD (2018) Mol Omics 14(3): 142-155
    › Primary publication · 29868674 (PubMed) · PMC6015503 (PubMed Central)
  8. Engineered microfluidic bioreactor for examining the three-dimensional breast tumor microenvironment. Rogers M, Sobolik T, Schaffer DK, Samson PC, Johnson AC, Owens P, Codreanu SG, Sherrod SD, McLean JA, Wikswo JP, Richmond A (2018) Biomicrofluidics 12(3): 034102
    › Primary publication · 29774083 (PubMed) · PMC5938175 (PubMed Central)
  9. Improving the discovery of secondary metabolite natural products using ion mobility-mass spectrometry. Schrimpe-Rutledge AC, Sherrod SD, McLean JA (2018) Curr Opin Chem Biol : 160-166
    › Primary publication · 29287234 (PubMed) · PMC5828964 (PubMed Central)
  10. In Utero Exposure to Histological Chorioamnionitis Primes the Exometabolomic Profiles of Preterm CD4 T Lymphocytes. Matta P, Sherrod SD, Marasco CC, Moore DJ, McLean JA, Weitkamp JH (2017) J Immunol 199(9): 3074-3085
    › Primary publication · 28947540 (PubMed) · PMC5659751 (PubMed Central)

“This work was supported in part using the resources of the Center for Innovative Technology at Vanderbilt University.”

Community Leaders

Contact Information

PMB 351822
Nashville, TN 37235
USA
615-875-8421 (p)

Stacy Sherrod
615-875-8421 (p)
Email

Keywords & MeSH Terms

MeSH terms are retrieved from PubMed records. Learn more.

Key: MeSH Term Keyword

Algorithms Animals Biochemical biological networks Biomarker Discovery Biomolecular Brain Chromatography, Liquid Cisplatin Cocaine-Related Disorders Databases, Genetic Discovery Science Environmental Exposure Gases Infant, Premature Interleukin-6 Laboratories Lipidomics Lipids Mass Spectrometry metabolism Metabolism metabolomic analysis Metabolomics Mice, Inbred C57BL Microbiome Molecular Conformation Molecular Omics Multivariate Analysis Network Analysis Nucleotides Pathway Analysis Precision Medicine Pregnancy Secretome Small Molecule Libraries Temperature Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Workflow Zonula Occludens-1 Protein