Innovative metabolomics & lipidomics solutions and single cell & subcellular research spotlight

Dr. Susan Bird, of Thermo Fisher Scientific, will discuss how innovative approaches in metabolomics — including SQUAD (Simultaneous Quantitation and Discovery), exposomics, and alternative fragmentation techniques — are advancing the identification and quantification of small molecules. These strategies enable greater precision and depth in small molecule research, transforming how scientists study metabolites and lipids to better understand metabolism across a wide range of scientific fields.

In the second half of the presentation, Dr. Melanie Bailey from King’s College London will showcase how the SIESMIC Facility is pioneering the integration of capillary sampling with LC-MS and LA-ICP-MS to achieve sub-cellular proteomics and metals analysis. Her presentation will highlight how this innovative workflow provides new insights into cellular composition and molecular interactions at unprecedented spatial resolution.

Key learning points

• Discover how Thermo Fisher Scientific’s innovative metabolomics research techniques are advancing the identification and quantification of small molecules, delivering greater precision and depth in analytical research.
• Gain insight into King’s College London’s SIESMIC Facility and how it integrates capillary sampling with LC-MS to support single and sub-cellular “omics” investigations.
• Examine the latest LC-MS methodologies enabling higher detection of metabolites and lipids at the single-cell level.
• Understand emerging theories on metabolic cross-talk between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and host cells—and how these interactions may explain why certain cells become infected while others resist.
• See how advanced techniques at the SIESMIC Facility combine capillary sampling with LC-MS and LA-ICP-MS to achieve sub-cellular proteomics and metals analysis.

Who should attend

• Metabolomics & Lipidomics Scientists: Researchers quantifying small molecules or lipids who require enhanced sensitivity, robustness, and reproducibility in targeted or untargeted assays.
• LC–MS Method Developers & Analytical Chemists: Professionals focused on optimizing separations and acquisition strategies (e.g., full-scan + MS/MS, PRM/DIA) for improved quantitation.
• Data Analysts in Life Sciences: Teams responsible for managing large metabolomics datasets, applying quality control and normalization, and producing decision-ready insights.

Presenter: Melanie Bailey, PhD (Professor, Kings College, London)

Melanie Bailey's research group focus on the development of analytical techniques that can be used to probe biomarkers in cells, tissues and biofluids. She is Director of the BBSRC SEISMIC facility for single and sub-cellular omics, an open resource for bioscientists exploit new capability in single and sub-cellular live cell omics, using capillary sampling. She is a member of the UK National Ion Beam Centre management commitee (EPSRC) and is leading the development of multimodal imaging of elemental and molecular markers, through a novel system using MeV and keV energy ion beams. Her group also have expertise in non-invasive sampling via fingerprints, sebum and saliva, and the development of tools for prognostic and diagnostic markers.

Prof Bailey is an active member of the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund, which provides seed funding for analytical scientists. She is passionate about communicating science to the public and recently obtained a Guiness World Record for fastest marathon dressed as a cell to raise money and awareness for analytical science. She is Editor in Chief of the RSC's longest running journal, The Analyst.

Presenter: Susan Bird, PhD (Metabolomics Vertical Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)

As Sr. Manager, Susan is responsible for leading the Metabolomics vertical marketing strategy and leads both the scientific applications and vertical marketing programs. This includes initiatives to expand and strengthen strategic relationships and guide product development to meet the emerging needs of our Metabolomics customers.

Prior to this role, Susan worked in commercial as an instrument sales rep in the Boston and Cambridge area. Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, she trained as a post-doc and Instructor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School where she developed non-targeted and targeted lipid profiling methods, applied to epidemiology cohorts.

This work used primarily LC-MS with Orbitrap detection and provided key contributions to the emerging field of lipidomics.