December 2, 2025
AUBURN, Alabama - Representing a significant addition to the research infrastructure at the Harrison College of Pharmacy, Dr. Angela Calderón recently received support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to enhance the college’s mass spectrometry work.
Calderón received a grant from the NIH’s S10 Basic Instrumentation Grant (BIG) Program to purchase an Agilent 6546 LC-QTOF mass spectrometer. A first-of-its-kind award at Auburn University, the acquisition of the instrument serves to advance biomedical research in the Harrison College of Pharmacy and the university at-large.
“This represents a transformative addition to Auburn University’s research infrastructure,” said Calderón. “This advanced instrument with higher resolution and mass accuracy, and lower detection limits, enables a wide range of mass spectrometry-based experiments. It is also expected to assist in increasing the number of NIH-funded research projects in the areas of cancer, neuroscience, drug discovery, quality and safety of botanical dietary supplements and new biomedical applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry.”
Mass spectrometry enables rapid qualitative and quantitative analyses of small molecules and biomolecules. High-resolution, accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) spectrometers have become an essential analytical tool for biomedical research, significantly enhancing research capabilities, productivity, competitiveness and innovation.
A piece of equipment like the mass spectrometer is vital in experiments like determining accurate mass measurement of small molecules, tandem mass spectrometry for structural elucidation of known and unknown compounds, drug metabolism studies, metabolomics, lipidomic, and accurate mass measurement of peptides and known proteins.
“By offering these expanded analytical capabilities, the LC-QTOF will empower NIH-funded researchers across campus to advance their investigations in biomedical sciences,” said Calderón. “This strategic investment strengthens our infrastructure and significantly boosts our competitiveness for future NIH funding.”
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Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 20 percent of all colleges of pharmacy in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master's in pharmaceutical sciences and a bachelor’s in drug and biopharmaceutical sciences. The College’s commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn’s overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the College, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.