The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has received two grants in 2025 totaling nearly $3.6 million from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to acquire a next-generation mass spectrometer for molecular research and a cutting-edge two-photon 3D printing system for precision biofabrication. The investments, funded through the MLSC’s Research Infrastructure program, will significantly expand the university’s research, training, and industry collaboration capabilities.
The IALS Mass Spectrometry Core Facility received a $1.98 million award to acquire a timsTOF fleX mass spectrometer, expanding proteomics, metabolomics, and spatialomics research across a range of disciplines. As the only high-end mass spectrometry core facility in Western Massachusetts, the center will also provide shared access and hands-on training to support academic, industry, and workforce development needs.
A second award of more than $1.58 million will support the acquisition of a two-photon polymerization direct laser writing 3D printer and related tools for the Advanced Digital Design and Fabrication Core Facility (ADDFab), enabling the fabrication of complex three-dimensional structures with submicron precision which will allow applications that were previously impossible with conventional manufacturing techniques. The system will support economic development in the region by expanding access to precision fabrication for startups and small businesses, while serving as a training resource for students and external users.
These awards build on the MLSC’s longstanding support of IALS, which was originally established through a $95 million investment from the Center, and were part of a recent announcement by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MLSC totaling $20.8 million to support 13 projects advancing life sciences innovation across Massachusetts, including more than $16 million awarded through the Research Infrastructure program.
The impact of facilities such as these will be highlighted at MLSC’s upcoming Convening of the Cores on February 10, 2026, at The Engine in Cambridge, MA. This convening will bring together Core Facilities, researchers across academia and industry, and equipment vendors to advertise resources that are publicly available throughout the state and the capabilities of these resources. Click here to learn more and register to attend.
