$2.2M Transformation Brings New Capabilities to MSU’s Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core
With support from the MSU Research Foundation, the upgraded Core is helping MSU researchers pursue complex, cross-disciplinary challenges.
Campus leaders tour the newly renovated Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core at Michigan State University, which recently underwent a $2.2 million transformation with support from the MSU Research Foundation. (Photo: Paul Henderson & Finn Gomez / College of Natural Science)
EAST LANSING, Mich. (June 3, 2025) — Michigan State University has completed a $2.2 million renovation of its Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core, significantly expanding the facility’s capacity to support high-impact, cross-disciplinary research.
Led by Associate Professor and Core Director Maryam Goudarzi, the facility now houses twelve state-of-the-art mass spectrometers—including newly acquired instruments from Bruker and LECO—positioning it among the most advanced university-based analytical labs in the region.
The renovation marks a new chapter for a facility with deep roots in MSU’s research enterprise. Established in 1968 with support from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy, the Core has long been a leader in analytical chemistry and metabolomics.
“This investment modernizes both the equipment and the researcher experience,” said Dr. Goudarzi. “Our goal is to make the Core more accessible and collaborative—ensuring it serves as a launchpad for discovery across disciplines.”
MSU Vice President for Research and Innovation Doug Gage, who served as Facility Manager in the 1990s, reflected on the evolution of the Core during a recent tour with campus leaders.
“The capabilities we have today would’ve been unimaginable when this facility first opened,” said Gage. “It’s exciting to see how this next generation of leadership is building on that legacy to meet the needs of modern research.”
The upgraded Core supports a growing portfolio of research projects in fields such as plant science, human health, environmental chemistry, and precision agriculture. Researchers across campus are already using the enhanced instrumentation to gain new insights into complex biological and chemical systems.
Funding for the renovation and new instrumentation was provided in part by the MSU Research Foundation, continuing a long history of strategic investment in MSU’s research infrastructure.
“Our support for this renovation is part of a broader effort to strengthen the research infrastructure that makes MSU competitive on a national stage,” said David Washburn, Chief Executive Officer of the MSU Research Foundation. “Facilities like this expand what’s possible for researchers and play a critical role in recruiting and retaining top talent.”
The renovation aligns with the MSU Research Foundation’s long-term strategy to expand the university’s research capacity. In May, the Foundation announced a $75 million designation to MSU’s comprehensive campaign, Uncommon Will, Far Better World—bringing its total support for the campaign to over $120 million and more than $400 million in cumulative contributions to the university since 1973.
To learn more about how to access services or collaborate with the Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core, visit: natsci.msu.edu