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Mass Spectrometry
Skills in Demand for Drug Discovery
John
Michnowicz, the Proteomics Program Manager
for Agilent Technologies, describes the
value of mass spectrometry skills in drug
discovery teams in a Nature Drug Discovery
article.
Broadly trained scientists with mass
spectrometry skills add great value to
drug discovery teams according to
Michnowicz. During the past decade, the
technological improvements in mass
spectrometry have had a significant impact
on drug discovery and development. Modern
liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
(LC/MS) using the various forms of
atmospheric-pressure ionization (API) and
matrix-assisted laser desorption
ionization (MALDI) have made the
identification and quantification of
complex and liable molecules a routine
procedure. Oligonucleotides, peptides,
proteins and small-molecule drug
candidates can be now be screened using
mass spectrometry in a highly automated,
high-throughput manner.
But Michnowicz notes that although
manufacturers have greatly simplified the
operation of mass spectrometers, the
average mass-spectrometer laboratory will
normally be staffed with several
Ph.D.-level scientists who have expertise
in mass spectrometry. This has placed a
great demand for people with expertise in
this technique. The current shortage of MS
talent clearly opens up significant
opportunities for students entering
universities to study advanced
degrees.
A new graduate with a solid MS background
is 'hot property' in today's employment
environment, but this value is
considerably enhanced by knowledge of an
application area, such as biochemistry or
toxicology.
The full article appears in
Nature Drug
Discovery.
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