CELLENONE X1 NEO SYSTEM FOR PROTEOMICS RESEARCH

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY This application requests funds to purchase a cellenONE X1 Neo single-cell isolation and liquid dispenser system from Cellenion. The proposed instrument will be located in the Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core at Baylor College of Medicine. The cellenONE X1 Neo is essential for establishing ultra-low-input proteomics capabilities at BCM and will be primarily used to isolate single cells and subcellular structures from clinical samples, pre-clinical patient-derived xenograft models, and various animal- and cell-based model specimens. Configured with protein sample processing workflows for bottom-up mass spectrometry, this platform will meet critical sample preparation needs for picogram- and nanogram-level starting materials, which demand extremely precise, low-volume, and contamination-free sample handling not adequately supported by our standard core protocols. Single-cell and spatial proteomics is a novel and rapidly advancing area of biomedical research with the potential to transform our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and disease mechanisms. However, despite BCM’s extensive research infrastructure, this capability is currently lacking at our institution. The addition of the cellenONE X1 Neo represents a significant leap forward, enabling our core to offer a complete, automated solution for ultra-sensitive proteomic analysis. Importantly, this instrument will leverage a recent acquisition of the Bruker timsTOF Ultra2 in the Mass Spectrometry Core – a $1.2 million investment in state-of-the-art mass spectrometry instrumentation capable of measuring ultra-small-scale proteomes. Although this Bruker timsTOF is already used for other challenging applications, the absence of a suitable single-cell preparation platform remains a critical barrier to adopting true single-cell and spatial proteomics workflows. The unifying aim of the projects supported by the cellenONE X1 Neo is to explore the molecular mechanisms driving normal physiology and disease at the level of individual cells or rare cell populations. This instrument will provide the precision, scalability, and operational robustness necessary to meet the evolving needs of our growing user base. Its integration into the Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core aligns with BCM’s strategic plan to expand and share cutting-edge proteomics capabilities and will directly enhance research initiatives in cancer, metabolic disease, neuroscience, immunology, and beyond. The cellenONE X1 Neo will position the Core, and BCM more broadly, as a regional leader in ultra-sensitive proteomics by providing a comprehensive, accessible sample processing solution.