At a Glance
- Company: UMass Amherst’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS)
- Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Deal value: US$3.6m grant from Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
- Focus area: Omics research and biofabrication
- Next steps: Acquire Bruker timsTOF fleX and UpNano NanoOne Bio equipment
What happened?
UMass Amherst’s Institute for Applied Life Sciences received a US$3.6 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to purchase specialised equipment. The funding enables acquisition of a Bruker timsTOF fleX mass spectrometer for proteomics and metabolomics, plus an UpNano NanoOne Bio 3D printer for high-resolution biofabrication.
Why does it matter?
Advanced omics tools accelerate biomarker discovery and disease mechanism studies, while nano-3D printing enables tissue engineering and drug delivery innovations. The investment bolsters Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem, supporting translational research from lab to clinic and fostering industry collaborations.
Who’s behind it?
IALS translates academic research into commercial solutions via shared core facilities; MLSC drives state life sciences growth through targeted grants. Equipment from Bruker (timsTOF fleX for trapped ion mobility spectrometry) and UpNano (two-photon polymerisation printing).
How was it achieved?
Grant targets equipment enhancing IALS’s capabilities in multi-omics workflows and bioprinting at nanoscale resolution (<1μm), addressing needs in precision medicine and regenerative therapies.
What’s next?
Installation and researcher training, followed by pilot projects in cancer proteomics, neurodegeneration and engineered tissues, with data feeding into pharma partnerships and federal grants.