SelectScience InterviewsLife Sciences

University of California Irvine redefines mass spectrometry imaging with the Shimadzu iMScope QT

19 Jan 2026
Charlie Carter
Life Sciences Editor
University of California Irvine redefines mass spectrometry imaging with the Shimadzu iMScope QT

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is rapidly reshaping spatial biology by allowing scientists to map metabolites, lipids, and proteins directly in tissues with unprecedented clarity. In this SelectScience interview, Dr. Felix Grun, Director of the Mass Spectrometry Facility at University of California Irvine, shares how the iMScope QT from Shimadzu is transforming MSI by enabling high-resolution, high-speed spatial metabolomics and lipidomics across diverse research areas. With its atmospheric pressure MALDI design, built-in optical microscope, intuitive workflow, and powerful ImageReveal software, the Shimadzu iMScope QT is accelerating scientific discovery and opening new possibilities in spatial biology and multiomics research.

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Shimadzu Corporation

Shimadzu Corporation was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1875 and has been supplying cutting-edge analytical and measuring instruments for a broad range of applications for over 140 years. Key markets include pharmaceuticals, life sciences, food & beverages, chemicals, petrochemicals, environmental, material science, and forensics/toxicology. Products include chromatographs (HPLC/UHPLC/SFC, GC), mass spectrometers (GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, MALDI, ICP-MS), spectrophotometers (FT-IR, Fluorescence, UV-VIS-NIR), atomic spectrometers (AA, ICP), X-ray spectrometers (ED-XRF, XRD, XRF), thermal analyzers, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzers, particle size analyzers, material testing machines, and balances, etc.

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iMScope QT

Shimadzu Corporation

The iMScope QT inherits the concept of a mass spectrometer equipped with an optical microscope from the iMScope series, the iMScope QT is also Shimadzu's fllagship model for MS imaging with a Q-TOF MS. The iMScope QT boasts not only fusion with morphology studies but also excellent speed, sensitivity, and spatial resolution, clearing the way to next-generation mass spectrometry imaging.

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Light MicroscopyLight microscopes or optical microscopes are used to visualize microscale objects under magnification, including cells, clinical specimens and materials. Lab equipment for light microscopy includes confocal microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, zoom and stereo microscopes. Microscope slides and imaging reagents are available for visualizing samples, as well as various microscope stages and incubators for large or temperature-sensitive samples. Find the best light microscopes in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Data AnalysisData analysis hardware and software is available to make data processing straight-forward yet powerful. Data software can be used for math and stats, technical graphing and image analysis. In addition, software is available for specific data analysis of electrophoresis, densitometry, ELISA and DNA sequencing.MALDI ImagingMetabolomicsMetabolomics is the study of small metabolites (the intermediates and products of metabolism). It involves the identification and quantification of cellular metabolites using analytical technologies such as GC, HPLC, NMR, and LC/MS.LipidomicsSpatial BiologyBig DataBig data is described as data sets that are extremely large and complex, and can be challenging to process.