Topspec – Next generation precision antibody profiling – from science fiction to reality

MS Vision is Europe’s leading independent LC/MS service provider, offering support to hundreds of customers throughout Europe in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Established in 2004, we support with 12 field based engineers all current and old models of LC/MS platforms manufactured by Waters, Thermo and AB Sciex. An important activity which has taken place continuously within MS Vision since 2005 is the modification of standard mass spectrometers for dedicated analysis of large proteins and protein complexes. In close cooperation with the group of Prof. Dr. Albert Heck at Utrecht University, hardware and software adaptations were developed and implemented for improved ion transmission and desolvation of high mass ions sprayed under native conditions. This has lead to the sales of ~30 modified mass spectrometers throughout Europe, which are currently maintained by MS Vision. Several development projects are now running at MS Vision and partners to further improve performance of these systems, in terms of selectivity (Ion Mobility project with Prof. Dr. Perdita Barran, Manchester University), sensitivity and desolvation (project with Fasmatech, Athens, Greece).

Key person in TopSpec

Jan Commandeur holds a BSc degree in Chemistry (Hogeschool Alkmaar, 1990). He continued his education at FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) in Amsterdam, where he was involved in a wide variety of multi-disciplinary research projects as support technician. He joined Micromass (Waters) in 1998, and specialized in mass spectrometry support, both from a technical as a management point of view. In 2004 he was one of the co-founders of MS Vision, where he manages the service activities and is the driving force behind the various technology projects that lead to the sales of modified instrumentation for the analysis of large protein complexes, and that are currently underway (Ion Mobility, enhanced desolvation).

 Main Tasks in TopSpec:

MS Vision will focus on testing and investigating the market for the TopSpec technology, including preparation of the Business plan in collaboration with all partners.