Operated together by the JKU Institute of Analytical Chemistry, opens an external URL in a new window and the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Budweis, the lab was developed as part of an EU-funded collaboration project “METABO-BL Infrastructure for Metabolomics Research and Medical Chemistry”.

The lab gives scientists a place to conduct competitive research projects in the area of metabolomics research using analytical devices, such as a time-of-flight ion mobility spectrometer. The opening ceremony took place as part of the JKU’s Faculty of Engineering & Natural Science’s 50th anniversary celebrations.  Prof. Zoltan Takats from the prestigious Imperial College in London held a keynote speech about the possibilities of instrumental analytical chemistry in high-tech medicine. The i-Knife developed by his working group is a 'smart scalpel' which provides a surgeon with important online information and can, for example, provide a chemical analysis when tissue is cut in the operating room, such as differentiating cancerous from healthy tissue.

Over 60 guests attended the opening ceremony.