PROJECT SUMMARYThe University of Arizona is requesting funds for the acquisition of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry system (triple quadrupole UPLC/MS). The instrument will be operatedwithin the framework of the University of Arizona Cancer Center Analytical Chemistry Shared Resource (UACCACSR) to support 12 NIH-funded researchers including 10 UACC investigators and new users. ACSR is ashared resource funded by the UACC Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) since 2001 to provide centralizedsupport in performing chromatography-mass spectrometry based assays for quantitative measurements ofdrugs novel therapeutics nutraceuticals bioactive food components carcinogens toxicants and endogenousmetabolites in various biological specimens as well as qualitative studies in untargeted metabolomics andlipidomics. It has a proven track record of providing support to UACC investigators and campus-wide users andhas received an Outstanding merit in the National Cancer Institutes CCSG review. Users listed in thisapplication have past and/or ongoing projects supported by the ACSR. The triple quadrupole LC/MS isconsidered the gold standard for rapid development validation and implementation of analytical chemistryassays to enable highly sensitive and specific quantitative analysis of small molecule analytes in complexbiological samples. The primary need for the instrument is to replace an aging instrument (Quantum Ultra triplequad acquired in 2005) no longer supported by the manufacturer. ACSR supports projects from an average of30 investigators annually and is still using this aging equipment today to support roughly 40% of projects. Inaddition to replacing the aging instrument the requested instrument also offers an improved assay sensitivityinto the ppt range and beyond and has a wider mass range expanding the analysis of peptides. With the ultrahighscan speeds combined with dynamic multiple reaction monitoring the requested instrument can also supportcomprehensive high-throughput targeted lipidomics analysis. Finally the upgraded UPLC will enhance bothcapability and capacity via shorten run time and superior separation compared to our current system. Theinstrument will support the assessment of the systemic bioavailability and tissue distribution of novel therapeuticsand preventive interventions the measurements of the extent of systemic and target tissue carcinogen/toxicantexposure the measurement of endogenous metabolites in biofluids and tissues as surrogate risk and/or end-point biomarkers and for assessment of metabolic changes to define the mechanisms underlying the disease ofinterest and to develop new strategies for treatment. Incorporation of the requested instrument into a well-established shared resource will promote cost effectiveness encourage optimal sharing among users and fostera collaborative multidisciplinary environment. We strongly believe that the requested instrument will have asignificant impact on NIH-funded basic translational and clinical research at the University of Arizona andcontribute to the institutions continued success in biomedical research.