The Fondation du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) is proud to announce that Waters Corporation has donated a Waters® Synapt(TM) MS System, the latest generation of mass spectrometers. This gift — worth a total C$1.1 million — is the result of a partnership between Waters and CHUS which is critical to the creation of the Centre d’expertise en spectrometrie de masse clinique Waters-CHUS (Waters-CHUS Expertise Center for Clinical Mass Spectrometry) for screening, clinical diagnosis, and assessment of treatments for specific hereditary diseases, as well as for patient surveillance and management.

CHUS formally acknowledged the donation made by Waters Corporation at a ceremony officially inaugurating the laboratory.

The acquisition of this state-of-the-art technology and establishment of the center will enable the CHUS to sustain its position at the cutting edge of genetics in detecting hereditary metabolic diseases and in research into assessing metabolites for various other diseases. The device is in addition to the acquisition of the first mass spectrometer — a Waters Quattro(TM) micro – – made possible by the Fondation du CHUS in 2005. At that time, the CHUS had the distinction of being Quebec’s first university hospital to put this technology to use in a clinical setting.

The Centre d’expertise en spectrometrie de masse clinique Waters-CHUS will come under the direction of biochemist Christiane Auray-Blais, PhD, researcher with the mother-child thrust of the CHUS Centre de recherche clinique Etienne- Le Bel, and professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universite de Sherbrooke.

“Patients will be the first to benefit from this unique partnership, since it will make new clinical tests available to the public. This mass spectrometer will enable us to identify previously unknown biomarkers, that is, characteristics that can be objectively measured biochemically as indicators of pathogenic processes. This will enable us to better understand certain diseases, such as Fabry disease, establish correlations with the severity of the disorder, screen patients earlier, offer more effective treatment, and deliver better management,” explained Dr. Auray-Blais, Scientific Director of the Centre d’expertise en spectrometrie de masse clinique Waters-CHUS.

She continued, saying that, “in addition to lysosomal storage disorders (lysosomal genetic deficiency), other diseases related to prematurity, gestational diabetes, pain, cancer, and DNA damages could be assessed with metabolic fingerprints or profiles.”

“Waters Corporation is dedicated to the implementation of mass spectrometry in a clinical setting. The high quality of research being done at CHUS by Dr. Auray-Blais into metabolic disorders will eventually lead to more widespread use of mass spectrometry as a diagnostic tool, resulting in better and earlier diagnosis of these diseases and having a significant positive impact on the quality of life of the patients,” added Dr. Mike Morris, Director of Technology and Business Development, Clinical Operations Group, Waters Division.

“Through the work at the Centre de recherche clinique Etienne-Le Bel, the CHUS remains at the forefront of innovative research into hereditary metabolic disorders and medical genetics. The creation of this center of expertise dedicated to mass-spectrometry research allows us to become a technology showcase for research and clinical practice in this field. Research and knowledge development are essential elements in improving the care delivered to patients. This stands out today as a superb example of a strong, profitable partnership with Waters, a company that also has at heart the wellness of the population and is fully aware of the importance of the role that it can play as a catalyst,” stated Patricia Gauthier, CHUS Executive Director.