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Project
High-end comprehensive GCxGC-QTOF-MS research facility for volatile and semivolatile compounds (GALILEO).
Volatile and semivolatile chemicals are recognised as byproducts of disease, boosting volatile analysis as
paramount instrument to monitor health and disease, personalize health care and objectively establish the effect
of different treatment strategies. Next to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile compounds (SVOCS) are
present in the environment and in biological matrices, but most of them need to be chemically and structurally
identified and their role in health and disease is yet to be explored. In this proposal, we describe the set-up of a highend
GCxGC-QTOF-MS facility for analysis of VOCs and SVOCs in biological samples like breath, blood, urine, faeces
of humans and animals, and in the headspace of cells. The goal is to set up an infrastructure that allows to assess and
investigate multiple biological sample types and their headspace for monitoring health and disease, to identify
disease biomarkers, to intensify research on the environmental health issues of modern life, and to tackle
the hurdles presently encountered in the metabolomics analysis of steroids and small organic acids. By this means,
we intend to team up and complement with international volatomics research groups. In Flanders, such a specialised
facility is lacking, and will be unique. It combines high sensitivity, ultralow detection limits for analysis and validation of the molecular composition of biological and headspace samples, with specific sampling devices and advanced data processing.
Date:1 Jun 2022 → Today
Keywords:METABOLOMICS, VOLATOMICS, HIGH RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY, BIOMARKERS
Disciplines:Respiratory medicine