Best of the Week: Funding Cuts in Chemistry, Scialog Awards, An Interview with Paul Ferguson, and More

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on hot topics in separation science. Several analytical techniques were covered in these articles, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–MS (LC–MS). Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles that were published this week. Happy reading!

GC-MS Sheds Light on Chemical Communication Between Desert Locusts

A collaborative study conducted by researchers in Germany, Kenya, and Spain explored how cross-stage interactions between juvenile and adult desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) affect behavior, development, and pheromone emissions. Using GC–MS and controlled cage assays, the team examined short- and long-term effects of adult presence on nymphs (1). The results showed that exposure to adult locusts influenced nymphal traits like morphology, maturation, and chemical signaling, which may improve survival in swarming conditions. These findings highlight the complex biology and chemical ecology of locusts and suggest that understanding cross-stage interactions is critical for developing better locust management strategies (1).

New Contactless Compact Mass Spectrometry System Set to Improve Narcotics Detection

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) announced that BaySpec will commercialize their VaporID device. This device, which is a portable air sampling system with a miniaturized mass spectrometer, will be mass developed by the end of 2025. Developed in collaboration with PNNL, VaporID uses noncontact detection to identify trace airborne levels of drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as explosives, in seconds (2). It was recently field-tested at the U.S.–Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona, which showed that the system could detect fentanyl concentrations as low as six parts per trillion (ppt) (2). Funded by the Department of Homeland Security, PNNL and BaySpec hope that the VaporID device could be used in ports, airports, and public venues.

Navigating the Impact of Funding Cuts: Voices from the Research Community

In 2025, U.S. research institutions are facing major disruptions because of sweeping federal science funding cuts driven by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Proposed budget reductions, which include 40% for the National Institute of Health (NIH), 55% for the National Science Foundation (NSF), and 31% for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have resulted in stalled grants, canceled projects, and jeopardized staffing and student support (3). Scientists like Kevin Schug and Susan Richardson are navigating delayed decisions, limited alternatives, and increased pressure to shift toward shorter, industry-aligned research. In this article, Schug and Richardson comment on the ongoing challenges their laboratories face and how these cuts are impacting the industry. The article also explains how this trend is also occurring in the United Kingdom, raising global concerns about underinvestment in core scientific disciplines (3).

18 Scientists from the US and Canada Win Scialog Awards for Advancing Chemical Lab Automation

Recently, seven university teams from the U.S. and Canada have been awarded funding for collaborative projects that use automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to advance chemical research. These awards, part of the Scialog: Automating Chemical Laboratories initiative, support 16 researchers with $60,000 each (4). The initiative, created by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration among early-career scientists. At a recent meeting in Tucson, Arizona, researchers pitched 21 projects, emphasizing innovation, reproducibility, and cost-effective laboratory automation (4). The event featured keynote speaker Nikki Pohl and highlighted Scialog’s success in building lasting research partnerships through high-risk, high-reward scientific dialogue.

Sustainability and New Modality Therapeutics: An HPLC 2025 Interview with Paul Ferguson

In a special HPLC 2025 interview with LCGC International, Professor Paul Ferguson discusses how analytical techniques in the pharmaceutical industry are evolving to align with sustainability goals (5). As a leader in green analytical science at the University of Amsterdam’s Van ‘t Hoff Institute, Ferguson highlights strategies for reducing environmental impact in method design, including minimizing mobile phase volumes and replacing trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with greener alternatives like methanesulfonic acid (5). He emphasizes the need to balance performance with environmental responsibility, especially in developing new modality therapeutics, and shares insights on sustainable approaches to LC–MS workflows (5).

References

1. Chasse, J. GC-MS Sheds Light on Chemical Communication Between Desert Locusts. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/gc-ms-sheds-light-on-chemical-communication-between-desert-locusts (accessed 2025-07-09).
2. Wetzel, W. New Contactless Compact Mass Spectrometry System Set to Improve Narcotics Detection. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/new-contactless-compact-mass-spectrometry-system-set-to-improve-narcotics-detection (accessed 2025-07-09).
3. Jones, K. Navigating the Impact of Funding Cuts: Voices from the Research Community. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/navigating-the-impact-of-funding-cuts-voices-from-the-research-community (accessed 2025-07-09).
4. Acevedo, A. 18 Scientists from the US and Canada Win Scialog Awards for Advancing Chemical Lab Automation. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/18-scientists-from-the-us-and-canada-win-scialog-awards-for-advancing-chemical-lab-automation (accessed 2025-07-09).
5. Matheson, A. Sustainability and New Modality Therapeutics: An HPLC 2025 Interview with Paul Ferguson. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/sustainability-and-new-modality-therapeutics-an-hplc-2025-interview-with-paul-ferguson (accessed 2025-07-09).