Services

1. Purpose

1.1 Technological Platform

The Atlantis Interdepartmental Research Centre has developed a platform of advanced, high-impact mass spectrometry technologies intended to support translational research activities of high scientific standing, and operates according to criteria of quality, traceability and economic sustainability. The Centre has adopted this document in order to regulate access to the omics analysis service (metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics), which may be carried out using the available technology, comprising:

- UHPLC Elute Plus

- nanoElute

- timsTOF Pro 2 (Bruker)

- Rapiflex (Bruker)

- HTX M3+ Sprayer

The platform is located at the Atlantis Centre, on the ground floor of the Biology Building of the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy.

1.2 Types of Analysis Offered by the Service

- LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH HIGH-RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY (UHPLC-HRMS)

- MASS SPECTROMETRY IMAGING (MSI)

2. Eligible Users and Access Procedures

2.1 Users

The service is available to:

- a) Researchers affiliated with the UniTo Departments of Oncology, Clinical and Biological Sciences (DSCB), and Chemistry

- b) UniTo Researchers from other Departments

- c) External (non-UniTo) users

2.2 Scientific Responsibility

Each request must be submitted by a Scientific Coordinator (Principal Investigator, PI), who assumes scientific and financial responsibility for the analysis, guarantees the suitability of the samples, and accepts these Regulations in full.

2.3 Request Procedure

Requests must be submitted by completing the Request Form and sending an e-mail to the Centre's institutional address (atlantis@unito.it), together with a description of the project setting out the scientific aim of the request, the type of analysis required, the number and nature of the samples, and information regarding the biological matrix.

2.4 Sample Preparation and Delivery

Samples must be prepared in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provided by the Centre and must be clearly identified by a unique code. The Centre reserves the right to refuse non-compliant samples.

2.5 Turnaround Times

Analyses will be carried out by qualified in-house staff. The indicative maximum turnaround time for the delivery of results is 40 working days from acceptance of the samples.

3. Costs and Price List

The service operates on a per-sample pricing basis. Fees vary according to the category of user. Indicative prices for the analytical service are set out in the table provided in the Annex A table.

3.2 Optional Services

- Development of a dedicated chromatographic method: quotation provided on request

- Advanced data analysis / multivariate statistics: quotation provided on request

- Extended biological interpretation: quotation provided on request

- Customised report: quotation provided on request

3.3 Payment Terms

The Scientific Coordinator referred to in Article 2.2 shall pay a fee corresponding to the service requested. Income shall be allocated to a self-financed research project and shall be used to cover routine and extraordinary maintenance, consumables, and instrument management. Before the service begins, the Centre shall prepare a cost estimate on the basis of the service requested, which must be accepted by the Scientific Coordinator prior to the commencement of the activity.

For Departments of the University of Turin, the relevant fee will be transferred to the management centre at the ‘Polo di Medicina Orbassano-Candiolo’.

For External Bodies (other universities, public and private research institutions, and companies), a contract must be signed and an invoice will be issued; the amount payable will be increased to include statutory VAT at 22%.

4. Safety and Liability

4.1 Access to the service presupposes full knowledge and acceptance of these Regulations, as well as awareness of the regulations in force concerning prevention and safety.

4.2 The Scientific Coordinator, as specified in point 2.2, guarantees that the samples comply with the regulations in force and have been prepared in accordance with the protocols provided by the Centre. Any instrument damage attributable to unsuitable samples shall be charged to the customer.

5. Data Management

Raw data will be provided in a standard format. The Centre does not guarantee permanent storage beyond a period of six months.

6. Ownership of Results and Publications

The data obtained belong to the requesting research group. Where Centre staff have made a significant scientific contribution, co-authorship may be requested. Any scientific publications making use of the data generated must acknowledge the Atlantis Centre.

7. Final Provisions

These Regulations, approved by the Department Council, enter into force on the date of approval and remain valid for a period of three years. Any amendments must be authorised by the Council.

8. Contacts

Scientific Contact: Prof. Paola Costelli

Technical Contacts: Dr Barbara Peracino, Dr Valentina Schiavo, Dr Simona Gallo

Service e-mail: atlantis@unito.it

The prices represent an estimate of the costs required to carry out the analysis. Before the analysis begins, the Atlantis Centre reserves the right to negotiate a cost estimate on the basis of the specific service requested, which must be accepted by the Scientific Coordinator.

For MSI analysis, the cost is charged per slide: a slide may contain up to 3 sample sections, each with a maximum size of 1 cm². The slide and the reagents required for sample embedding are provided by the Atlantis Centre. The following remain, at present, under the user responsibility: 1) sample sectioning, which may be carried out at any histology laboratory in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Centre's technical contacts; 2) haematoxylin-eosin staining, intended as a sample quality control, to be reviewed with the Centre's technical contacts before the MS analysis is carried out.

Optional services:

• Development of a dedicated chromatographic method: quotation provided on request.
• Advanced data analysis / multivariate statistics: quotation provided on request.
• Extended biological interpretation: quotation provided on request.
• Customised report: quotation provided on request.

*Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Department of Oncology, Department of Chemistry; MSI: mass spectrometry imaging.

Bulk metabolomics analyses for apolar or semi-polar metabolites are currently available, utilising UHPLC with a C18 column followed by MS/MS. This service is accessible to members of the UniTo community at a fixed rate of €50 per sample. Access to and coordination of the analyses will be facilitated upon completion of the form below, after which you will be contacted from the Atlantis facility staff: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqublDjnwgHn9D6eQ4eMPfVcV6T-N7SY5vdrArIPDDSEvMnw/viewform