In a ceremony attended by senior representatives of the Waters Corporation, Imperial College London, The Gambia Government and the MRC Unit The Gambia, a Waters Xevo TQ MS mass spectrometer was donated to The Unit on 28th May 2012. Commenting on the donation, Professor Tumani Corrah (Unit Director, MRC Unit The Gambia) said ‘This machine will enhance our science and our disease diagnostic possibilities, thereby taking The Unit along lines we’ve dreamed about. It will also contribute towards improved clinical care and research for the Gambian populace.’

There are many types of mass spectrometers and sample introduction techniques that allow a wide range of analyses. The Xevo TQ MS is one of the most advanced of its kind, combines the highest performance with system versatilit y and ease of use.  It provides the best quantitative data and also superior spectral MS/MS information, together with a high versatility in one instrument platform. It is adaptable to a wide variety of different applications both quantitative and qualitative: bioanalysis, food safety, environmental monitoring, and more. In summary, it guarantees maximum system performance that is accessible to the broadest range of users.

Commenting on the donation of the Xevo TQ MS, Mr John Shocker, Director of Strategic Operations, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Waters Corporation Waters said ‘Mass Spectrometry is the workhorse of pharmaceutical and medical research. It has far more strengths than weaknesses, and because of its extreme sensitivity, it allows you to do your science - and very, very quickly.’

The Waters machine’s capability to identify biological indicators of disease (biomarkers) will enhance the identification of disease and the development of novel methods to diagnose diseases early.  In addition, it will provide the MRC’s Gambia Unit with the facility to learn and use new and innovative technology in all of its research areas, thereby expanding and enhancing the institution’s skill base.

Remarking on skills transfer, Professor Mark Thursz (Imperial College London), lead investigator on the EU FP7 ‘Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cancer in Africa (PROLIFICA)’ project said ‘PROLIFICA includes metabonomic/genomic/proteomic investigations.  It was thought that most of this analysis would be done in Europe, but there is a requirement in the PROLIFICA grant for capacity building. [Therefore] We are grateful to Professor Simon Taylor-Robinson and Dr Elaine Holmes (Imperial College London) who worked together – with Waters - to make this donation possible.’ Dr Holmes is also leading the training activities relating to the machine, both at MRC Unit The Gambia and Imperial College London.

In conclusion, Mr Mamodou Bah (Interim Director, National Public Health Laboratory) representing the Ministry of Health thanked Waters for the donation which he said ‘added to the cutting edge technology MRC is known for.’
MRC Unit The Gambia wishes to thank Mr Arthur G Caputo, Executive Vice President and President Waters Division of Waters Corporation and Mr John Shockcor, Director of Strategic Operations, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Waters Corporation, for the generous donation of the machine.