About the Conference
The ongoing single-cell revolution and the rise of single-cell -omics approaches, in particular, single-cell RNA-sequencing highlighted by Science as the Breakthrough of the Year in 2018, have revealed to us the hidden world of cellular heterogeneity, novel cell types, and cell population dynamics. The discoveries enabled by these technologies are transforming our understanding of biology and medicine by decoupling functions, phenotype, and types of individual cells. Most of these single-cell approaches are based on sequencing, flow cytometry, and microscopy, which have a common limitation in that they cannot capture, track, or elucidate the molecular makeup of cells with respect to their proteome, lipidome or metabolome. Single-cell mass spectrometry is emerging as a necessary, valuable, and long-demanded technology to bridge this critical gap.
Until very recently, single-cell mass spectrometry was out of reach due to limitations in sample preparation, separations and MS instrumentation. However, in the past years, several key technological breakthroughs opened the field of single-cell mass spectrometry for much wider development and use. For example, sensitivity improvements in MS instrumentation through gains in ion transmission and utilization efficiency have resulted in zeptomole detection limits that are compatible with in-depth, untargeted single-cell biochemical analysis. In addition, imaging mass spectrometry approaches have reached single-cell resolution, enabling in situ detection of metabolites, lipids, and drugs in single cultured cells as well as single-cell regions in tissue sections.
Presently, there is an exponential growth of single-cell approaches in mass spectrometry, those which use microsampling (such as CE-MS, Live MS, single-probe, nanoPOTS, and fluidic force microscopy) and imaging mass spectrometry (in particular MALDI-based such as microarrays, microMS, co-culture, transmission and post-ionization, as well as other types of imaging mass spectrometry such as SIMS, nanoSIMS, NAPA, LAESI, nanoDESI, atomic force microscopy). Numerous studies have demonstrated the metabolome or lipidome to be characteristic for the cell type, and how it is changed upon perturbations. Overall, by now there is a growing and enthusiastic community of single-cell mass spectrometry method developers and those who are driven by applications of single-cell mass spectrometry biology and medicine. Single-cell mass spectrometry is gaining more recognition at ASMS as well, with a first-ever session devoted to single-cell analysis and with Peter Nemes giving a tutorial talk on this exact topic at ASMS annual conference 2020.
For the 2022 ASMS Asilomar Conference we aim to bring together scientists interested in all aspects of single-cell mass spectrometry, from academia and industry including mass spectrometry vendors, big pharma, and small and medium enterprises developing instrumentation, software, services and applications.
Covid-19 Precautions for the In-Person Asilomar Conference
Updated February 8, 2022
We do not know yet the Covid recommendations for October 2022, but we can share the maximum precautions/protocols that may be in effect. Thank your for your patience as we wait and see what Covid has in store over the coming months.
- Proof of vaccination (at least two weeks from last shot)
- Proof of negative Covid test result dated within 72 hours of your arrival at confernece (antigen or PCR). For a home test follow manufacturer instructions carefully, take a photo of result + your ID + any dated receipt (for proof of date).
- Masks must be worn inside the session room and other public indoor spaces where conference may gather, except while eating or drinking.
2021 Photo Memories
After cancelling the 2020 Asilomar Conference due to Covid, what a pleasure to convene in-person for the 36th ASMS Asilomar Conference on Mass Spectrometry in December 2021.