In recent years, mass spectrometry (MS) has undeniably gained increasing popularity as an integral part of the techniques available in the clinical field and as a unique tool for a comprehensive understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic responses specific to each patient. The applications of this technique range from the qualitative and quantitative assessment of drugs, hormones, vitamins and a wide range of small organic molecules of clinical interest in biological matrices, to the identification of new biomarkers, with different approaches such as proteomics, metabolomics, imaging MS and others allowing to identify molecular determinants of diseases with unprecedented accuracy. MS coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) has proven to be exceptionally useful in the analysis of complex biological matrices, while high-resolution MS has expanded analytical capabilities, enabling the detection of low-abundance molecules and the elucidation of complex biological pathways. The growing interest in the clinical applications of MS requires technical innovations and the integration of MS with other techniques, opening up new opportunities for the discovery and validation of biomarkers and for the transfer of MS from conventional analysis laboratories to the clinic. Clinical applications of MS, which may involve either a targeted or an untargeted approach, cannot be separated from the development of shared experimental and regulatory procedures that ensure the rigorous and reliable application of this technique to biological samples and clinical problems. Indeed, recent developments in regulations, standards, and protocols for the analytical and clinical validation of MS-based analyses, including the most recent European Regulation 2017/746 (IVDR), have forced MS users to face complex challenges in using commercially available or laboratory-developed tests in their clinical routine.
The aim of this first INCAMS meeting is to bring together MS users, researchers and experts from different countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this technique, sharing the most innovative strategies and their actual potential in biomedical applications. Through its various sessions, the meeting will highlight both the similarities and differences between the different countries, thus paving the way for the creation of an international network for the development and application of mass spectrometry in the clinical field.