The Analytical Scientist Innovation Awards 2024: #4

4 – Thermo Scientific Stellar MS 

Completing a key piece of the translational research workflow by verifying new biomarker discoveries

Produced by Thermo Fisher Scientific

The Stellar mass spectrometer combines the quantitative power of a quadrupole with the single-cell sensitivity of linear ion trap analyzers, achieving 10 times greater sensitivity and detecting 5 times more compounds than existing technologies. It quantifies nearly 10,000 peptides per hour and offers 4 times higher sample throughput, significantly improving the speed and scale of biomarker translation from discovery to validation. Its advanced data acquisition capabilities enable robust, reproducible quantitation across a wide range of analytes and molecular classes, supporting extended dynamic range studies.

What the judges say… 

“A brighter future for high resolution high content MS and its high throughput applications.”

“Moving biological MS into the translational research realm.” 

Meet the experts: Philip Remes and Cristina Jacobs

Please introduce yourselves 

Philip Remes: I’m a senior scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where I specifically work as a mass spectrometry (MS) instrument developer. My role involves envisioning what the product could look like and collaborating with various engineers to bring that vision to life. I specialize in the areas of signal processing, instrument control, and computer-aided design. Essentially, I help transform conceptual ideas into tangible, high-performing mass spectrometers.

Cristina Jacob: I am the product manager for the Thermo Scientific Stellar Mass Spectrometer (MS), our new mass spectrometer focused on targeted verification. My primary responsibility is to bridge the gap between the development phase in the lab and the product's introduction to the market. I ensure that the system meets the needs of end-users and facilitate its transition from a laboratory innovation to a market-ready product. This involves coordinating between different teams to ensure seamless integration and implementation.

What impact could your innovation have?
 

Remes: The innovation within Stellar MS fundamentally changed my perspective. It demonstrated that a simpler MS instrument could outperform high-end instruments in certain scenarios, particularly where speed and sensitivity were more crucial than very high mass accuracy and resolution. Initially, my focus was on enhancing the resolution of ion traps, but this experience showed that it was more important to develop and release the instrument we already had, which could achieve remarkable results focused on speed and sensitivity.

Jacob: The Stellar MS with related software tools, particularly Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM) conductor, significantly simplifies development methods, bridging the gap between discovery and validation, which is crucial for clinical research. The Stellar MS not only offers high performance but also enhances productivity through its ease of use. This makes it an ideal machine for transitioning from discovery to targeted applications, ultimately benefiting the biomarker verification process.

Was there a key breakthrough or major “eureka” moment during development?
 

Remes: There was a significant breakthrough in 2016 while working on the first prototype. We were initially limited to acquiring data at 40 Hz, which was not competitive. After closely examining the instrument control code, we significantly increased the acquisition speed without any loss in signal. This optimization allowed us to achieve up to 200 Hz under certain conditions and set a world record for peptide detections from a cell lysate using a targeted method. Although we couldn't disclose this at the time, it was exhilarating to know we had a powerful and secret technology that ultimately was incorporated into Stellar MS, which launched in 2024.

Did you collaborate with any external teams during development? If so, how important was the collaboration in achieving the end result?
 

Jacob: We collaborated with several experts, including Michael MacCoss, Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington; Matthias Mann, Director at Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry; Jennifer Van Eyk, Professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Brian Searle, Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. These collaborations were essential for verifying our concepts and ensuring the system met specific application needs of the end-user. MacCoss was particularly helpful on the technology side, while others like Mann and Van Eyk provided valuable feedback on applications like targeted biomarker verification. The collective input was critical in making the Stellar MS a robust and versatile tool for various users.

Remes: One of our earliest collaborators and his expertise in proteomics was invaluable for me, especially since I had never run an LC-MS experiment before 2016. Our collaborators helped us develop a clear vision and benchmark to focus on the potential for an MS instrument capable of large-scale targeted analysis, a concept prevalent in genomics but not yet in proteomics. This collaboration guided our development efforts.

Do you have a “philosophy of innovation”? 
 

Remes: My philosophy is that everything is interconnected. Learning new skills or tackling projects often has applications, even if not immediately apparent. Over time, you build a diverse skill set that allows you to explore new ideas quickly. Another key philosophy is to be courageous and give new ideas a shot; they are often not as daunting as they seem.

Are you driven more by scientific curiosity or the desire to make an impact?
 

Remes: I am driven by scientific curiosity on a day-to-day basis, but my long-term motivation is to make a significant impact. While solving problems like crossword puzzles can be satisfying, I want my career to have a meaningful and lasting contribution.

Jacob: As a scientist, my primary driver is scientific curiosity and the potential impact of our systems. However, I also focus on our customers and the benefits they can gain. Balancing scientific exploration with market needs ensures that our innovations are both impactful and practical.

Is there anything missing from the analytical scientist’s toolbox today?
 

Jacob: There is always room for improvement, and we strive to address gaps as they arise. The Stellar MS aims to fill current gaps by enhancing scalability, sensitivity, and productivity. It is designed to not only discover new biomarkers but also verify them efficiently and cost-effectively.

What big problems could analytical innovation help to solve over the next decade?
 

Remes: Many significant problems, particularly in human health, are being tackled by various experts. Our ability to solve these problems is limited by our perception, which is expanded through advanced analytical tools. Any progress in analytical science will be quickly utilized to address these challenges.

Jacob: A key issue is reducing the time from discovery to clinical research. Despite extensive discovery efforts and improvement in the last few years, few innovations reach clinical application. Tools like the Stellar MS can expedite verification of biomarkers, making a substantial impact on future healthcare by improving lab productivity today.

What’s next for your team?
 

Remes: Our focus remains on making instruments faster, more sensitive, more robust, and easier to use. There is still much to achieve in these areas.

Jacob: We aim to continuously improve our instruments' speed, sensitivity, and robustness. The Stellar MS represents the first in a new class of instrumentation with a promising future ahead. We are committed to advancing this technology to meet evolving scientific needs, and the future ahead is bright!