Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Astral Zoom Mass Spectrometer to accelerate Monash proteomics research

Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has invested in a Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Astral Zoom Mass Spectrometer, an instrument that will accelerate proteomics research and open up new possibilities in biomedical and translational research.

The new instrument, housed in the Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform and launched at a special event yesterday attended by Monash and Thermo Fisher Scientific representatives, significantly expands researchers' capacity to identify and quantify proteins and other biomolecules in complex biological samples.

“Mass spectrometry is currently in a ‘golden age’, with rapid advances in sensitivity, speed and data quality transforming what is possible in proteomics and related fields,” said Platform Director Professor Ralf Schittenhelm. “A few years ago, in a typical experiment, we might have been able to identify a few thousand proteins from a sample. With the new Astral Zoom, we can now identify more than 10,000 proteins. That’s a huge jump in coverage, and it fundamentally changes the kind of biological questions we can ask and answer.”

Professor Schittenhelm also said that the new equipment will particularly advance low-input workflows such as single-cell proteomics, in addition to accelerating plasma proteomics research at Monash. “Plasma has traditionally been one of the most challenging sample types for proteomics,” he said. “With this instrument and the workflows we’re putting in place, we can achieve levels of coverage that were essentially unheard of until very recently. That’s incredibly exciting for biomarker and translational research.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific's Vice President and General Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Jo Broughton said, “Today’s installation of the Orbitrap Astral Zoom at Monash University reflects the strength of our partnership and a shared commitment to advancing what’s possible in proteomics. By combining world-leading technology with Monash’s research excellence, we are enabling scientists to generate deeper, faster insights that will accelerate discovery and help translate complex biology into meaningful outcomes for patients and communities across Australia and New Zealand.”

Associate Dean (Research and Research Infrastructure) of Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Professor Ian Smyth was pleased to launch the new equipment. “Thanks to our long-standing partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Monash researchers now have access to world‑leading proteomics capabilities at the Clayton campus, helping them generate the kind of data needed to tackle complex health challenges and accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments,” he said. “This investment reinforces our commitment to remaining at the forefront of biomedical research in Australia and internationally.”