Understanding biology across scales remains a central challenge in analytical science. In this interview, Pierre Chaurand, Professor of Chemistry at the Université de Montréal, discusses how imaging mass spectrometry fits into this pursuit. Microscopy reaches extreme spatial detail, extending into the nanometer range. Imaging MS offers molecular insight but operates within different constraints. Some MS techniques push toward 100-nanometer resolution, yet trade-offs emerge. Limits in mass range and detectable biomolecules shape what researchers can observe.
Chaurand emphasizes complementarity rather than competition. Each technique reveals distinct information. Imaging MS enables global molecular mapping, particularly at the protein level. Other methods, including immunochemistry, provide precise localization of individual targets within organelles. Spatially resolved transcriptomics adds another dimension by mapping RNA distributions.
No single platform answers every question. Researchers must integrate tools to build a coherent picture. Imaging mass spectrometry delivers powerful capabilities, yet validation through orthogonal approaches remains essential for confident biological interpretation.
