Project description
Semiquantification for exposomics leveraging ion mobility separation
Environmental contaminants including industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and persistent ‘forever chemicals’ are increasingly detected in human samples. Detecting them is not enough; quantification is essential to ensure their levels stay below thresholds associated with adverse health effects. Combining liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry has proved useful in this regard but requires reference standards not always available for non-target screening. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the semiQ2 project aims to develop a new quantitative non-target screening approach combining LC-HMRS with trapped ion mobility separation (LC-TIMS-HRMS). TIMS further separates molecules – potentially reducing matrix complexity in human samples and improving the accuracy of semi-quantification. This will support risk assessment and prioritisation of newly detected contaminants.
Objective
Exposomics has revolutionized our understanding of how environmental factors influence diseases such as asthma, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and undiagnosed conditions. Exposure characterization enables epidemiologists to link biological pathways to disease outcomes. Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), including industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and persistent “forever chemicals,” are now commonly found in the environment and human samples. Detecting these compounds in biological matrices is not enough; quantification is essential to ensure their levels stay below thresholds associated with adverse health effects. Advances in liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) have enhanced the targeted detection and quantification of CECs. However, this method depends on access to reference standards, which is impractical for non-target screening, where standards may be unavailable. Quantitative non-target screening (q-NTS) provides an alternative by offering concentration data for unknown compounds, enabling data interpretation beyond simple relative peak areas. We propose a new q-NTS approach optimized for human samples, using ion mobility separation to resolve co-elution issues. Employing LC-trapped ion mobility separation-HRMS (LC-TIMS-HRMS) and covering a broad range of CECs, our goal is to develop an LC-mobility resolved ionization efficiency (IE) model for both negative and positive electrospray ionization. These models will consider chemical structure, LC conditions (mobile phase and pH), adduct types, and signal areas from mobility versus intensity. TIMS is expected to reduce matrix complexity in biological samples, improving IE model accuracy and semiquantification. We will test the accuracy of these models using urine and blood samples from a prospective cohort of at least 60 participants (30 healthy and 30 patients). Risk assessment and prioritization of the detected CECs will utilize the generated semiquantitative data.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28006 Madrid
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.