"The objective of the proposed collaboration research project is the development of a mass spectrometry-based tissue identification system capable of in-vivo, real-time identification of tissues during surgical and diagnostic interventions.The underlying Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) method was developed as the first analytical technique allowing the real-time chemical analysis of biological tissues in surgical environment. It was presented two years ago, and since then it was proven to fulfill all expectations raised, regarding level of tissue differentiation. It is now being experimentally tested in human surgical environment and preliminary results indicate that the method provides a real solution for the long-standing problem of instantaneous intraoperative tissue identification. REIMS technique was developed by Medimass Ltd. in close collaboration with Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen.The aim of the project is to develop a device that is capable of utilising REIMS in the surgical environment by adding a number of applications (surgery and targeted cancer types) that provide relevant information to surgeons during operation.In order to prove true intrasurgical applicability for a number of uses, the device interface and the surgical tools have to be adapted and extensively tested in real life situations. The result is a surgical device that is capable of providing instant histology information.The development of dedicated REIMS instrumentation apart, the proposed project also includes the development of a novel, lipidomics-based tissue phenotyping system, which uses the mass spectrometric data for the establishment of diseased or healthy tissue phenotypes. Envisioned phenotyping is based on the comparison of unknown data to a database of authentic REIMS data by utilizing multivariate statistical pattern recognition algorithms. The results will enable even more detailled analysis therfore result in more precise surgical device."