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Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry

State-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise, serving both internal and external users.

 

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool with many diverse applications across a range of disciplines. The York Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry (CoEMS) provides a means for you to access state-of-the-art instrumentation, along with the necessary expertise to develop your research in many areas, such as therapeutic protein discovery and characterisation, post-genomic sciences, lipidomics, metabolomics, gas-phase ion chemistry, chemical characterisation, chemical catalyst discovery, archaeological support, and environmental science.

The Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry at the University of York is a joint initiative of the Departments of Biology and Chemistry, set up in 2008 to provide the University of York, and the wider community, cross disciplinary expertise and access a broad range of mass spectrometric instrumentation. Initially supported by Science City York, Yorkshire Forward and Northern Way, is has also attracted significant infrastructure funding from the EPSRCBBSRC and the University of York. It now extends its reach to complementary areas in Mass Spectrometry such as Environmental Science and Archaeology.

The facility helps scientists to tackle some of their most testing analytical challenges, and provides a highly specialised technical service to both academia and industry. We actively encourage external users from academic institutions and commercial enterprises, and typically service ~ 30 external organisations each year, around half of which are commercial and half academic. Routes for accessing the Centre include formal academic or industrial collaborations, fee-for-service work, or direct instrument access.

>100Years of combined MS experience

25Analytical instruments

>200Publications using data obtained in CoEMS

What we do

The Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry (CoEMS) supports a huge variety of research across multiple departments at the University of York, alongside external academic and industry partners. We act as a MS expertise hub, helping researchers tackle tough analytical challenges and turn them into clear, usable data.
Our team has a massive wealth of knowledge and experience, meaning we can help you find the absolute best approach for your specific analytical problem. Rather than just running your samples, we work closely with you to interpret complex data and fine-tune your experimental workflows.
Our lab routinely handles a really diverse mix of sample types. We regularly set up methods for and work with proteomics, intact proteins, modified peptides, small molecules, glycans, polymers, deuterated molecules, and plenty more.
We are also passionate about training the next generation of scientists. We offer hands-on, practical training on our state-of-the-art instruments, giving University of York staff and students the skills and confidence they need to book equipment and run their own samples independently.