Since 2021, the University of Liège has secured nearly €8 million in public and private funding to position itself at the forefront of ultra-sensitive proteomics research. An ambitious investment that is paying off: ULiège has thus become the first Belgian university to gain access to the timsTOF ULTRA AIP (Bruker) configuration, a state-of-the-art technology capable of analysing minute quantities of biological material.
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his exceptional technological ecosystem is taking shape around a strong collaborative dynamic. Led by the MSLab in close collaboration with the GIGA Proteomics platform, these developments are paving the way for scientific approaches previously out of reach: spatial proteomics, single-cell and rare-cell analysis, immunopeptidomics, and the innovative study of human sweat as a source of biomarkers.
These research areas all demonstrate ULiège’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the life sciences. Through these advances, the Liège-based institution is consolidating its influence far beyond Belgium’s borders and is now establishing itself as one of Europe’s leading players in biomedical research.
“A first major milestone was reached in 2022 with the support of the Foundation Against Cancer, which enabled the acquisition of a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer,” explains Gabriel Mazzuchelli, the project leader. “This equipment, a timsTOF SCP platform, offers exceptional sensitivity, paving the way for proteomic analysis at the single-cell level.” In the wake of this, the teams rapidly developed new methodological approaches, notably through the optimisation of laser capture microdissection on extremely small areas directly from tissue sections, sometimes limited to around twenty cells. These advances in spatial proteomics confirm the potential of these technologies for the study of rare and complex biological materials.
This momentum has been further accelerated by the award of “major equipment” funding from the FNRS, which has enabled the acquisition of a state-of-the-art laser capture microdissector (Cell Robot and Cell Cut, MMI) as well as the recruitment of a specialist dedicated to spatial proteomics. This technological and human reinforcement provides a lasting boost to the platform’s capabilities.
In parallel, a strategic upgrade of the timsTOF SCP mass spectrometer, jointly funded by the FNRS and the GIGA Proteomics platform’s own resources, will soon enable access to the timsTOF ULTRA AIP configuration, a first in Belgium. This major development propels ULiège among the leading European players in ultra-sensitive proteomics.
These advances also pave the way for new collaborations, both academic and industrial. The study of complex conditions such as endometriosis, conducted in partnership with Hirundo Biosciences, a member of the Gedeon Richter group , provides a concrete illustration of the practical potential of these technologies.
“Thanks to the convergence of these investments, infrastructure and expertise, the University of Liège now boasts a unique technological ecosystem, serving the personalised medicine and biomedical research of tomorrow,” concludes Gabriel Mazzucchelli.
GIGA Proteomics platform website
* Proteomics is the science that identifies and quantifies all the proteins present in a cell or tissue at a given moment. By reflecting the actual state of living organisms, it is a powerful tool for understanding diseases and discovering new diagnostic biomarkers.
** The timsTOF ULTRA AIP (Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry Time-Of-Flight, Ultra-sensitivity, Athena Ion Processing) is the latest-generation mass spectrometer that combines high-resolution trapped ion mobility (TIMS) with a time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyser, offering exceptional sensitivity and acquisition speed. The AIP (Athena Ion Processing) configuration refers to a software and hardware enhancement that optimises ion processing for quantitative protein analyses using very small amounts of biological material, particularly at the single-cell level.
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