Parallel Squared Technology Institute (PTI) @ParallelSqTech

The annual meeting of the American Society For Mass Spectrometry (@asmsnews) has been very special for me as the Biemann Medal recognized our contributions to developing single-cell proteomic technologies and using them to open new perspectives through which we can discover and understand biological phenomena. The journey is made more wonderful by sharing it with a collaborative and thoughtful community. I am deeply grateful to all who have contributed to the research recognized by the Biemann medal, a very special distinction and recognition for research that is gaining momentum.

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Single-cell proteomics illuminated new mechanisms of mammalian development. We found that spatially polarized protein distributions and intracellular protein gradients emerge during the earliest stages of mammalian embryogenesis and help bias subsequent cell fate decisions. Critically, these developmental mechanisms are not reflected in mRNA abundance: the key biology resides in the spatial organization, abundance, and asymmetric localization of proteins within and between cells. The results show that early developmental patterning is associated with polarized localization of specific proteins and coordinated proteomic asymmetries across blastomeres, linking protein organization directly to lineage specification. These findings support a model in which cell fate in the mammalian embryo is not determined solely by stochastic transcriptional programs, but is strongly shaped by inherited and dynamically regulated protein states that establish developmental competence before overt differentiation: cell.com/cell/fulltext/… Our results depended critically on single-cell proteomics analysis, on direct measurement of the molecular effectors that execute developmental decisions — capturing gradients, localization, stoichiometry, and post-transcriptional regulation. The future of developmental biology will depend increasingly on quantitative single-cell protein measurements capable of resolving the molecular architecture of cell fate determination: doi.org/10.1242/dev.20…

The final version of our @AnnualReviews article is now published OA: annualreviews.org/content/journa…

These numbers are key to understanding RNA and protein analysis. The different counting statistics fundamentally shape technological challenges and opportunities. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Congratulations to Nikolai Slavov, recipient of the 2026 ASMS Biemann Medal! This award recognizes significant early-career achievement and highlights emerging leaders shaping the future of #massspectrometry. #TeamMassSpec

Intrinsically disordered regions do not lack structure: Rather, they encode structural plasticity. This plasticity is not a limitation of biology, but one of its most powerful design principles. This research frontier inspires our team at Parallel Squared Technology Institute (@ParallelSqTech) to develop experimental and computational approaches to measure, model and understand the ensembles of protein conformations that underpin biological functions.

Prof. Nikolai Slavov @slavov_n

a month ago

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Next Monday (May 11), I will be in Madrid to share our research. I will present results from @ParallelSqTech and @slavovLab, including our latest proteomic technologies and the biological questions they are answering.

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I am deeply honored to share that I have been selected to receive the Biemann Medal by the American Society For Mass Spectrometry (@asmsnews). This distinction holds particular significance for me, given its recognition of contributions that advance the field in meaningful and lasting ways. While this award is presented to an individual, it reflects the collective contributions of exceptional teams at Slavov Lab (@slavovLab) and Parallel Squared Technology Institute (@ParallelSqTech). The progress we have made in pioneering single-cell mass spectrometry proteomics has been possible only through the bold vision, creativity, rigor, and persistence of colleagues and collaborators who share a commitment to expanding the boundaries of what can be measured and understood. I see this recognition not only as an acknowledgment of past work, but also as an affirmation of the promise of mass spectrometry and single-cell proteomics in particular. As these technologies continue to evolve, they offer unprecedented opportunities to uncover the molecular logic of biological systems with greater depth, precision, and mechanistic clarity. They are ideally positioned to generate the direct measurements and scalable datasets needed to power generalizable models of cells and cellular systems, deeper understandering of physiology and pathology, and ultimately the engineering of effective medical treatments. This award is special for me because of the leading roles of ASMS in our field and the high standards set by Klaus Biemann. His pioneering contributions helped shape the modern foundations of mass spectrometry and set inspiring examples for innovation, scientific integrity and mentorship. His formative influence continues to resonate across the field, making this recognition especially meaningful. —------ 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞: The left panel depicts peptide ions and their fragments derived from single cells and analyzed on the Q Exactive, an instrument introduced more than 15 years ago. The right panel shows quantification across many proteins in single cells from the same experiment. I selected this example because it clearly demonstrates how well-designed experiments and spectra interpretation can result in high-quality data even when using old instrumentation. This was a foundational pillar to our early contributions. The figure was created by Jason Derks circa 2021 and subsequently published as part of the community guidelines in 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑠: nature.com/articles/s4159…

Philanthropy has long supported groundbreaking research, from Tycho Brahe's landmark observational dataset to Jim Allison's contributions to discovering checkpoint inhibitors that led cancer immunotherapies. Throughout the centuries, philanthropic support has evolved significantly. Over the last decades, its role and significance have increased; now, philanthropy may contribute disproportionately to preserving bold and innovative scientific research in the face of troubled public funding. This Nature spotlight article examines recent trends, and highlights creative new initiatives, including Renaissance Philanthropy (@RenPhilanthropy) and Convergent Research (@Convergent_FROs): nature.com/articles/d4158… It also highlights a key power of philanthropy, one from which our research in Slavov Lab (@slavovLab) and Parallel Squared Technology Institute (@ParallelSqTech) has benefited significantly: “Because philanthropy can take risks others cannot, we also have the opportunity to build new models of how science is conducted, championing interdisciplinary science,” says Wendy Schmidt.

Judging from the SCP2026 abstracts, this summer’s @SCP_meeting is shaping up to be exceptional. A convergence of new technologies, deep questions, and inventive experimental designs is poised to unlock answers to some of longstanding puzzles. Abstract deadline: May 1st

Slavov Laboratory @slavovLab

2 months ago

Single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry: Technological overview and recent progress From uncertain possibility to robust and rapidly advancing technologies: 1/2 youtu.be/tibkXV6NblI?si…

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Single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry: Technological overview and recent progress From uncertain possibility to robust and rapidly advancing technologies: 1/2 youtu.be/tibkXV6NblI?si…

With years of research at its foundation, Nikolai and Harrison highlight the inspiration supporting PTI's own moonshot to make single cell proteomics scalable and accessible for researchers worldwide. Thanks @cowboybearninja for the video! youtu.be/9NNvkJYa43c

Six years on from this perspective: science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… The technology has rapidly advanced and spread beyond a few pioneering labs. I am excited for the next phase, when the technology will increasingly enable mechanistic investigations & discoveries. 🚀

At the same time, some proteins are very long-lived. Some persist as long as the organism itself. Protein lifetimes range from minutes to decades: ⏹️ That's a dynamic range of ~6,000,000. Lifetimes vary across cell types & states, and these dynamics are essential to life! 2/

You can help enable the quantification of thousands of samples/day without sacrificing depth or accuracy. What makes this position special is that these technologies are directly and tightly integrated with biological discovery. 2/2 jobs.lever.co/convergentrese…

A special opportunity for lovers of mass spectrometry proteomics to join a like-minded team at PTI. Join a collaborative initiative to enable direct protein analysis at unprecedented scale, in partnership with leading instrument developers, academics, and industry leaders. 1/2

We’re testing conceptual hypotheses, dissecting disease progression, proteostasis, protein degradation, PTMs, and aggregation, all with focus on creative, rigorous data interpretation. If you want to do science that changes how we think, this is it. 👇 jobs.lever.co/convergentrese…

🔥 We’re hiring! A rare opportunity to rethink neurodegeneration: 🟦 Develop creative, rigorous approaches to data interpretation that move beyond descriptive analysis toward mechanistic insight. Join our team at Parallel Square Technology Institute (@ParallelSqTech) to study neurodegenerative disease using direct protein analysis at single-cell resolution. 1/2

I’m grateful to be named a Distinguished Professor by Northeastern University College of Engineering. This recognition reflects the support, collaboration, and creativity of many colleagues, students, and collaborators over the years. I’m thankful to be part of a community that values rigorous science, curiosity-driven research, and supportive mentorship.