Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

The paper describes the application of a new analytical technique to clinical tissue samples. The results obtained with this technique demonstrate its importance for biomedical research.

  Does it describe a new discovery or a new methodology that's useful to others?

MALDI MS imaging is a new tool whose full potential remains to be explored. The technique of analyzing biological tissue sections is not limited to the described application; it is universally applicable to all aspects of tissue analysis.

  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

The beauty of this technique is the ability to image proteins and peptides directly in biological tissue sections without the need for a reporter system (stains). In biomedical research we are often interested in molecular changes at very specific locations in the organism. This method allows us to analyze the tissues of interest with a high resolution, simultaneously revealing the localization of hundreds of known and unknown molecules.

  How did you become involved in this research?

I entered the field of mass spectrometry over a decade ago, when I began designing new instruments for the sensitive analysis of high-mass ions. My growing interest in biomedical applications of mass spectrometry brought me to the group of Prof. Richard Caprioli, where I started working on MALDI MS imaging. It was fascinating to help develop this concept and to apply it to questions in a clinical environment. Having the opportunity to continue this line of research at Novartis, it is rewarding to apply this technique in the search for new cures for diseases.

Markus Stoeckli
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research
Basel, Switzerland