Scientific Advancements

 “The Barnett Institute has an impressive history of anticipating where science and societal needs intersect, and then producing high-impact solutions to meet those needs.”
- Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University 

The Barnett Institute's expertise in separating and analyzing chemical compounds through such techniques as capillary electrophoresis, high-pressure liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry is recognized worldwide.

It's also a premier center for cutting-edge research and advanced analytical-chemistry training for biomedical applications.

The Barnett Institute has contributed many significant technologies that have become standard in bioanalysis.



Clinical Proteomics

  • Discovery of biomarkers for breast, cervical, and lung cancer. 
  • Antibody-based technologies for biomarker discovery and diagnostics. 
  • Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Reference Lab. 
  • Editor in Chief, Journal of Proteome Research (ACS). 

Comprehensive Analysis of Proteins

  • Extended Range Proteomic Analysis: high sequence coverage of large proteins, 
including characterization of glycosylation and phosphorylation. 
  • Multiple Lectin Affinity Chromatography (MLAC): Rapid isolation of glycoproteins, 
the most biomedically relevant class of proteins.
  • CE-MS analysis of protein microheterogeneity. 

Additional Contributions 
  • Protein solution structure and dynamics by hydrogen-deuterium exchange MS. 
  • Post-translational modifications of proteins and DNA by biochemical 
tagging and mass spectrometry. 
  • Microscale LC-MS-NMR for metabolites and natural products. 
  • Reagents and methods for detection of DNA adducts. Environmental Cancer Research Program. 

Past Successes 
  • Genome Sequencing: Key technologies used to sequence the human genome: 
microcapillary gel electrophoresis and linear polymer sieving matrices. 
  • HPLC: Major contributions to the development and acceptance of liquid
chromatography, currently a multi-billion dollar industry.
  • Capillary Electrophoresis: Screening of natural product extracts for new 
therapeutic compounds using capillary electrophoresis. Detection of rare 
single nucleotide mutations in DNA pooled from populations. 
  • LC-MS: Electrospray mass spectrometry from a microfluidic device.