Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

The first session will be given as two 90-minute linked vignettes and will explore established and novel approaches to definitively improve analytical measurement performance - with the end goal of improving an assay LLOQ. The answer isn't necessarily buy a newer mass spectrometer, it is attention to details and maximizing each step of the process. This one-hour session will be presented in three modules. The first module, Foundations, will focus on assessment and improvements to pipetting techniques, control of adsorptive losses and use of surrogate IS studies to assess imprecision reduction during assay development. The second module, Formulation, will focus on system cleanliness, the fallacy of S:N, LC system dead-volume and flow rate implications, ionization efficiency enhancements, source and optics fouling, the value of signal summing + scheduled MRM and quadrupole resolution settings.
The third module, Finesse, will tie these concepts and practical solutions together to demonstrate their use for assays that have been developed, validated and deployed. Particular focus will be made to detailed establishment of “on-column” amount, controlling adsorptive losses throughout the assay, 2D-LC to decouple selectivity and sensitivity variables, selectivity and stoichiometry of reagents in worst case specimens, the consideration that while counter counter-intuitive, more degrees of selectivity (analyte losses) may be optimal for an assay.

Take Home Pearls:
- How to practically improve an assay performance as defined by lower levels of quantification
- How to enhance the throughput of an LC-MS/MS assay by paying attention to the little details
- How to enhance signal responses in a mass spectrometer without sacrificing quality"

Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

Note: This is Part 2 of a two part session.
The first session will be given as two 90-minute linked vignettes and will explore established and novel approaches to definitively improve analytical measurement performance - with the end goal of improving an assay LLOQ. The answer isn't necessarily buy a newer mass spectrometer, it is attention to details and maximizing each step of the process. This one-hour session will be presented in three modules. The first module, Foundations, will focus on assessment and improvements to pipetting techniques, control of adsorptive losses and use of surrogate IS studies to assess imprecision reduction during assay development. The second module, Formulation, will focus on system cleanliness, the fallacy of S:N, LC system dead-volume and flow rate implications, ionization efficiency enhancements, source and optics fouling, the value of signal summing + scheduled MRM and quadrupole resolution settings.
The third module, Finesse, will tie these concepts and practical solutions together to demonstrate their use for assays that have been developed, validated and deployed. Particular focus will be made to detailed establishment of “on-column” amount, controlling adsorptive losses throughout the assay, 2D-LC to decouple selectivity and sensitivity variables, selectivity and stoichiometry of reagents in worst case specimens, the consideration that while counter counter-intuitive, more degrees of selectivity (analyte losses) may be optimal for an assay

Take Home Pearls:
- How to practically improve an assay performance as defined by lower levels of quantification
- How to enhance the throughput of an LC-MS/MS assay by paying attention to the little details
- How to enhance signal responses in a mass spectrometer without sacrificing quality"

Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

One of the true killer applications in mass spectrometry involves the appropriate use of stable labelled internal standard materials to correct for a multitude of analytical variances. With great power, comes great responsibility (credit, Ben Parker in Spiderman). The second session will be given as two 90-minute linked vignettes and will explore established and novel approaches to definitively select and appropriately use internal standards, both in development and also into clinical utility, with the end goal of improving assay imprecision and error detection. The first module will describe in detail the "What, Why and How" Internal standards should be used in isotope dilution LC-MS/MS assays. The second session "But what about when?" will describe situations where Internal Standards fail criterion for use and how to correct deficiencies for effective LC-MS/MS assays. The third session will describe the "Unique capabilities" afforded to analytical measurement when used as internal calibrators/pre-analytic correction tools and in method development (as surrogates for analytes).

Take Home Pearls:
- How to rationalize and employ an internal standard in quantitative mass spectrometry
- How to use an internal standard to aid in assay development and as a troubleshooting tool
- How to creatively use stable labelled materials for quantification and historical calibration

Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

Note: This is Part 2 of a two part session.
One of the true killer applications in mass spectrometry involves the appropriate use of stable labelled internal standard materials to correct for a multitude of analytical variances. With great power, comes great responsibility (credit, Ben Parker in Spiderman). The second session will be given as two 90-minute linked vignettes and will explore established and novel approaches to definitively select and appropriately use internal standards, both in development and also into clinical utility, with the end goal of improving assay imprecision and error detection. The first module will describe in detail the "What, Why and How" Internal standards should be used in isotope dilution LC-MS/MS assays. The second session "But what about when?" will describe situations where Internal Standards fail criterion for use and how to correct deficiencies for effective LC-MS/MS assays. The third session will describe the "Unique capabilities" afforded to analytical measurement when used as internal calibrators/pre-analytic correction tools and in method development (as surrogates for analytes).

Take Home Pearls:
- How to rationalize and employ an internal standard in quantitative mass spectrometry
- How to use an internal standard to aid in assay development and as a troubleshooting tool
- How to creatively use stable labelled materials for quantification and historical calibration

Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

Central to determining assay quality and results reporting apriori is the fundamental belief that one is selectively measuring the analyte of choice. The use of transition ratio monitoring, while somewhat known to many users of tandem mass spectrometry, still provides a multitude of discreet challenges in the development, use and interrogation of chromatographic data. Historical rules based review, driven by qualifier transition yield relative to the quantifier transition fails to provide the appropriate quality considerations based on meaningful data. This pair of 90 minute presentations will include an arc of developmental understanding, from initial assessments (including favoring selectivity over sensitivity), validation of ion ratio's (sample types and concentrations) and use of transition ratio's (multi-level, non-symmetrical and statistically based).

Take home "Pearls" include:
1. How to select appropriate transitions for use in transition ratio monitoring - including tools to enhance response function for low intensity transitions
2. How to improve the precision of Transition ratio's through scheduling and appropriate dwell times
3. How to design transition ratio tolerances to enhance medical utility and including when to ignore the qualifier transition

Dr. Grant earned a first-class honors degree in Industrial Chemistry from Cardiff University and a PhD in Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric technologies from the University of Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. He continued his scientific training in various industrial settings, which have included senior scientist at GSK, Principal scientist at Cohesive Technologies, Technical director at Eli Lilly, and Director of Mass Spectrometry at Esoterix Endocrinology. Dr Grant is currently the Vice President of Research and Development and co-discipline director for Mass spectrometry at Labcorp. Dr Grant has pioneered the use of direct injection technologies, chromatographic systems multiplexing, microsampling, utility of automation, and other new analytical platforms in direct patient care. His research goals are focused upon improvements in speed, sensitivity, and quality of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analytical systems and assays. Dr Grant received the MSACL Distinguished contribution award and ASMS AL Yergey “Unsung Hero” Award in 2024 for his contributions to Clinical Diagnostics using Mass Spectrometry.

Note: This is Part 2 of a two part session.
Central to determining assay quality and results reporting apriori is the fundamental belief that one is selectively measuring the analyte of choice. The use of transition ratio monitoring, while somewhat known to many users of tandem mass spectrometry, still provides a multitude of discreet challenges in the development, use and interrogation of chromatographic data. Historical rules based review, driven by qualifier transition yield relative to the quantifier transition fails to provide the appropriate quality considerations based on meaningful data. This pair of 90 minute presentations will include an arc of developmental understanding, from initial assessments (including favoring selectivity over sensitivity), validation of ion ratio's (sample types and concentrations) and use of transition ratio's (multi-level, non-symmetrical and statistically based).

Take home "Pearls" include:
1. How to select appropriate transitions for use in transition ratio monitoring - including tools to enhance response function for low intensity transitions
2. How to improve the precision of Transition ratio's through scheduling and appropriate dwell times
3. How to design transition ratio tolerances to enhance medical utility and including when to ignore the qualifier transition