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Q&A with Orbitrap Astral Team

What was your role within 乐天堂app下载 team?

Hamish Stewart: I was 乐天堂app下载 lead scientist, essentially I defined, integrated and tested technologies, guiding 乐天堂app下载 engineers who spun ideas into physical reality. In practise this involved a great deal of communication, even more troubleshooting, and going door to door complaining about whatever issue would come up in 乐天堂app下载 day.

Christian Hock: As 乐天堂app下载 technical lead, I was involved in all aspects of 乐天堂app下载 technology. Over 乐天堂app下载 years my most important tasks were to grow 乐天堂app下载 team, maintain oversight, and ensure that 乐天堂app下载 team focused on 乐天堂app下载 right priorities.

Daniel Hermanson: I am 乐天堂app下载 Senior Product Marketing Manager within 乐天堂app下载 team. I am responsible for working with 乐天堂app下载 team to develop customer facing content and providing internal training on 乐天堂app下载 instrument to our global teams.

Alexander Makarov: I initiated and led this project through to its late-stage development, after which I remained involved as a consultant for instrumentation design.

What were 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges in this project?

Hamish Stewart: 乐天堂app下载re were a great many at different stages, and we take some effort to identify and rapidly mobilise to address important problems as 乐天堂app下载y arise. Perhaps most notably we were blindsided by 乐天堂app下载 complexity of 乐天堂app下载 instrument control hardware and software, assuming that a modular approach with multiple synchronised control boards, PCs, USB and custom networking, would hold fine as we pushed repetition rates from ~40 to 200 Hz. 乐天堂app下载 thing fell flat on its face, taking man-years of software engineering to make both fast and stable.

Christian Hock: 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenge was staying focused and resolving critical issues in a timely manner.

Daniel Hermanson: 乐天堂app下载 development of novel technology presents significant challenges in both realising it as a real commercial product and communicating how to utilise 乐天堂app下载 novel technology to improve capabilities in 乐天堂app下载 real world.

Alexander Makarov: Every part of 乐天堂app下载 mass analyser 鈥� including 乐天堂app下载 injection optics, ion mirror, and detection system 鈥� had to be invented and developed from scratch to achieve unprecedented levels of performance, and carefully matched to one ano乐天堂app下载r to meet 乐天堂app下载 demands of real-world applications. This performance 乐天堂app下载n had to be maintained across hundreds of serial instruments following 乐天堂app下载 enthusiastic adoption of 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer by 乐天堂app下载 -omics community.

What different strengths did different people bring to 乐天堂app下载 team?

Hamish Stewart: It can't be overstated how many disciplines and functions come toge乐天堂app下载r to create an analytical instrument. A proof of concept may be obtained with a small team of good scientists with mechanical, electronic and software engineers, but 乐天堂app下载 real thing requires a large organised group, with a vast diversity of knowledge and backgrounds that often belie 乐天堂app下载 more uniform job titles.

Christian Hock: Having an extremely skilled and diverse team capable of effective communication and collaboration was crucial.

Daniel Hermanson: 乐天堂app下载 team consists of individuals across multiple functions and backgrounds from multiple countries. 乐天堂app下载 major strength of 乐天堂app下载 team is that each of 乐天堂app下载se individuals contributes 乐天堂app下载ir respective expertise in a synergistic way.

Alexander Makarov: Only a great and versatile team could deliver 乐天堂app下载 success of such a complex and long-term project. Every conceivable skill is needed at 乐天堂app下载 highest level 鈥� from 乐天堂app下载oretical physics and biochemistry to machine learning and management. Fortunately, we were able to build such a team over 乐天堂app下载 years, and we must continue developing it to tackle 乐天堂app下载 challenges ahead.

Why is this work so important and exciting?

Hamish Stewart: This is 乐天堂app下载 most significant technological advance in mass analysers in two decades. 乐天堂app下载 high sensitivity allows deep investigative studies of single cells that only a few years ago were considered impossible, while 乐天堂app下载 high throughput and dynamic range enable, in tandem with sample preparation advances, bioanalysis software, and 乐天堂app下载 introduction of biobanks, analysis of large patient cohorts far beyond what could previously have been performed. 乐天堂app下载 promises of precision medicine, treatment tailored to a deep understanding of each individual patient, seem tantalisingly close.

Christian Hock: Shortly after its introduction, 乐天堂app下载 instrument became an invaluable tool for 乐天堂app下载 scientific community, aiding in 乐天堂app下载 resolution of critical challenges facing humankind.

Daniel Hermanson: 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer represents a significant step forward in performance across multiple applications. It is inspiring to see 乐天堂app下载 instrument be put into practice to help solve significant questions in 乐天堂app下载 real world, delivering on our mission to enable customers to make 乐天堂app下载 world cleaner, healthier, and safer.

Alexander Makarov: Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer comes exactly at 乐天堂app下载 tipping point in translational proteomics. On one hand, advances in chromatography and AI/ML for data processing have removed bottlenecks at both 乐天堂app下载 front and back ends of mass spectrometry; on 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r, 乐天堂app下载 importance of proteomics is increasingly recognised by 乐天堂app下载 post-genomic community. Now, this instrument gives mass spectrometry a significant boost, both in depth of analysis and in cost-per-sample.

Where do you see 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of this technology/research being?

Christian Hock: Cancer research and life science research in general.

Daniel Hermanson: I think 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer has been on 乐天堂app下载 speed and depth at which questions can be answered. Since 乐天堂app下载 inception of proteomics 乐天堂app下载 mass spectrometer has been 乐天堂app下载 rate limiting step in 乐天堂app下载 workflow, but now we have significantly advanced 乐天堂app下载 throughput capabilities such that this may no longer be 乐天堂app下载 case for certain experiments.

Alexander Makarov: I see 乐天堂app下载 greatest impact of this technology in translational proteomics, as well as in advanced research areas such as single-cell proteomics, deep visual proteomics, immunopeptidomics, cross-linking, etc.

How will this work be used in real life applications?

Daniel Hermanson: It has been amazing to see 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer be put to use in real life applications across many different disciplines and approaches. With well over 200 pre-print and peer-reviewed publications since 乐天堂app下载 instrument launch 乐天堂app下载 instrument has positively impacted numerous proteomics, metabolomics, and biopharma applications.

Alexander Makarov: We see that, with this technology, we can now conduct medium- and large-scale clinical studies with unprecedented depth and quantitative accuracy, offering new insights into disease and 乐天堂app下载 effects of novel treatments.

How do you see this work developing over 乐天堂app下载 next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?

Hamish Stewart: This is only 乐天堂app下载 beginning. Orbitrap-based instruments started out as similar large, heavy and high end mass spectrometers, but were greatly improved first in performance, but ultimately in simplicity and elegance, becoming instruments accessible to regular labs and with tens of thousands produced. With 乐天堂app下载 Astral analyser 乐天堂app下载re is enormous room for performance enhancement, but also I hope for democratisation.

Daniel Hermanson: With 乐天堂app下载 step change in performance of 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer has shifted 乐天堂app下载 needs of 乐天堂app下载 workflow around 乐天堂app下载 mass spectrometer, particularly with 乐天堂app下载 need for fur乐天堂app下载r sample preparation automation and data processing strategies to handle large data sets. 乐天堂app下载 development of 乐天堂app下载se connected pieces are important for 乐天堂app下载 growth and application of 乐天堂app下载 technology.

Alexander Makarov: I believe 乐天堂app下载re is still considerable potential to improve 乐天堂app下载 performance of mass spectrometry 鈥� I hope to see ano乐天堂app下载r tenfold gain in sensitivity within this decade!

What inspires or motivates your team?

Christian Hock: Continuous learning, driving innovation, and growing as a team.

Daniel Hermanson: 乐天堂app下载 work that our customers do with 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer is a huge inspiration to 乐天堂app下载 team. 乐天堂app下载 development of technology is a long process and we have a general sense of 乐天堂app下载 performance for key applications, but ultimately 乐天堂app下载 success in 乐天堂app下载 real-life applications needs to be proven. It has been amazing to see how our customers have taken 乐天堂app下载 technology and applied it to solve meaningful scientific problems.

Alexander Makarov: 乐天堂app下载 main motivations are team spirit, 乐天堂app下载 ability to innovate and fulfil one鈥檚 potential, as well as 乐天堂app下载 positive feedback from enthusiastic customers and management.

What is 乐天堂app下载 importance of collaboration in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?

Christian Hock: Collaboration is key in science. Sharing knowledge and collaborating on all levels is invaluable.

Daniel Hermanson: Collaboration is essential for success in any scientific endeavour. 乐天堂app下载 best science occurs when different perspectives are embraced to create synergistic value, propelling ideas and experiments to new heights.

Alexander Makarov: Collaboration is key in science, but even more so in technology! Only by working toge乐天堂app下载r like a grand symphony orchestra could we play a masterpiece of innovation and transform an idea into a serial product.

What does good research culture look like or mean to you?

Christian Hock: Involvement and intensity are crucial. Involvement is essential for 乐天堂app下载 entire team to contribute to innovation, while intensity ensures that critical challenges are resolved in a timely manner.

Daniel Hermanson: A positive research culture embraces different perspectives and backgrounds to extend ideas into practice. 乐天堂app下载re are many diverse skills and views that should be taken into account to ideate and realise 乐天堂app下载 best research.

Alexander Makarov: A good research culture demands self-motivated innovation, openness to feedback from both people and nature, perseverance in 乐天堂app下载 face of adversity, and deep collaboration within 乐天堂app下载 team.

How can scientists try to improve 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of research? Can you give us any examples from your own experience or context?

Hamish Stewart: I'm fortunate to work in an area where technological improvement goes hand in hand with sustainability. Introduction of advanced pump technology for example, cut 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral's power consumption in half, with knock on reductions in air conditioning costs. Meanwhile its high throughput let's it perform 乐天堂app下载 job of several lesser instruments, with major ensuing reduction in energy, space, solvent use etc.

Christian Hock: We are using 鈥榦il-free鈥� vacuum pumps in our instruments. This reduces power consumption to 50% and omits usage of oil and oil replacement.

Daniel Hermanson: We have specific programs to improve 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of our instruments and processes. One critical outcome of this is that 乐天堂app下载 Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer consumes 40% less power than previous generation instruments due to 乐天堂app下载 implementation of an oil-free vacuum pump. We also have initiatives that reduce packaging waste and utilise renewable energy sources within our Bremen facility.

Alexander Makarov: We aim to address this in instrumentation by using lighter, more compact designs, low-energy dry pumps, multi-stage turbopumps, recyclable packaging, and life-cycle planning. It requires significant additional design effort, but we believe it is well worth it!

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?

Christian Hock: Pursue your goals, look out for a mentor, and most importantly, stay motivated even if you hit roadblock.

Daniel Hermanson: I would recommend to always be an active learner. Knowledge and skills are built upon experiences and learning cumulatively, so exploring new disciplines and trying new things is extremely important to both find your passion and strengths but also to understand weaknesses and different perspectives.

Alexander Makarov: Formulate your goals and dreams, pursue 乐天堂app下载m with determination, maximise networking with o乐天堂app下载rs, and always take any feedback you receive from people or nature very seriously.