Table of Contents

From the Editor's Desk

Ravi Ravichandran

Spring is around the corner! At least that is what the weather pundits are saying. even though Ground hog did not show the expected sign on Groundhog Day!  I am getting tired of trying to keep my driveway reasonably clean after the snow plow goes past my house. I am looking forward to Spring! What can we expect in Spring besides fresh green grass and flowers? MCF Spring Symposium! Peter Johnson has been kind enough to provide an update of the symposium. Make the MCF Spring Symposium a part of your Spring activities. You will not regret it.

By the time this newsletter reaches you, some of you would have returned from the Mardi Gras City! What did I say? Mardi Gras! I meant Pittcon! It is a coincidence that Pittcon is always held in NewOrleans following the Mardi Gras Week. I am sure those who were fortunate enough to attend the conference saw lot of new instrumentation. If you want to take some time to write about what you found new and exciting at Pittcon 2001, please send me an email. I will publish it in the April issue of MCF Retention Times. That is a promise.

If you attended Pittcon for the first time, I would like to know your reactions to the conference. I still recall my self being awestruck in 1983 when I went to Pittcon at Atlantic City. Brian and I will be glad to publish your musings as a rookie at Pittcon. Come on! Send that article in!

2001 MCF SPRING SYMPOSIUM UPDATE

Peter Johnson

Abstracts are now being accepted for Poster and Oral Presentations at the 2001 MCF Spring Symposium

FREE LASER POINTER !!!

The presenting author of Poster and Oral Presentations at the 2001 MCF Spring Symposium will receive a complimentary MCF laser pointer.

Abstract Deadline March 31, 2001

The deadline for Abstract submission is March 31, 2001. Abstracts may be submitted on-line, by email, by FAX or by paper mail. Instructions for Abstract submission are available at the MCF website - www.minnchrom.org

REGISTRATION

Registration information for the 2001 MCF Spring Symposium is available inside this newsletter and also at the MCF website - www.minnchrom.org.

All short course registrants and Symposium registrants will receive a complimentary membership to MCF for one year.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2001 MCF SPRING SYMPOSIUM

INVITED SPEAKERS FOR THE 2001 MCF SPRING SYMPOSIUM

Keynote Speaker
Professor Csaba Horvath,Yale University

Focus Speakers
Dr. Steven Naylor,Mayo Clinic
Dr. Art Fitchett, Dionex Corporation
Dr. Frank Yang, Microtech

SHORT COURSES AT THE 2001 MCF SPRING SYMPOSIUM

Three short courses will be offered at the 2001 MCF Spring Symposium. The courses will be held on Tuesday, May 15 and Wednesday May 16.

Practical Advice for Developing Better GC Methods
Basic LC/MS Techniques and Applications
An Introduction to Ion Chromatography

Course information and registration is detailed inside this newsletter and also at the MCF website - www.minnchrom.org

MCF Spring Quarterly Meeting

Title:
"Coupling Laboratory Animals to Liquid Chromatography Using Microdialysis Probes and Robotic Blood Sampling. Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, LC/MSMS and LC/EC."

Abstract:

In the preclinical phase of drug development it is inevitable that animal studies must be accomplished to understand such issues as drug safety, drug metabolism, oral absorption (if any), blood brain barrier penetration (if any), the rate of excretion, the effect on behavior (CNS effects), and so forth. Bioanalytical chemistry is crucial to gaining an understanding. Samples must be taken and compounds must be quantitated, including the drug substance and any metabolites, as well as endogenous substances the drug candidate might influence. We have been developing sampling approaches which reduce animal stress, improve data quality, and reduce the number of animals required to get to a satisfactory result (this reduces cost and speeds the drug candidate to the next steps). This presentation will illustrate this integrated approach in which liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and electrochemistry are coupled to sampling in a more automated fashion than was possible even a just a few years ago. Components of the approach also include 96-well SPE, the Raturn animal containment system, the Culex robotic blood sampler, and epsilon microbore liquid chromatography levels.

MINUTES OF THE 28 February 2001 MCF BOARD MEETING

Present: G Bailie, L Charpentier, S Cherney, P Jackson, J Jopke, R Ravichandran, P Sackett, W Swanson

Education Committee Report: The Undergraduate Award selection committee will meet the week of 5 March to select this year’s winner. The Committee was asked by the Board to establish a cancellation policy for courses, and to include the cancellation information with all future course materials. Introductory and Advanced HPLC courses will be held this fall, and a Design of Experiments course is tentatively scheduled.

Symposium Committee Report: The Committee will meet 6 March, work is proceeding apace on the Symposium although we have no abstracts for papers at this point. We’ve already received booth reservations from vendors, which virtually never happens until after PittCon, so we should be able to fill our booth space this year.

Program Report: Paul is looking for dates and locations for the spring quarterly meeting featuring Pete Kissinger. Latest information can be found on the website.

Elections: Ward Swanson is seeking nominees (self- or otherwise) for President-Elect, Director, and Secretary-Elect.

Contact him at 612.832.2660 or wswanson@barr.com if interested.

New Business: Luke threw open the floor to suggestions regarding increasing membership and outreach to bench chemists in the area. Links to websites, contacts through vendors, mentions of the Symposium and courses in national publications would all help alert chromatographers to our existence. Each member is encouraged to promote the MCF to those who may not be aware of us.

Education Corner
MCF Short Course Guidelines

Kimberley Grandprey

The MCF is a volunteer run organization. Education Committee serves a very important function in MCF- providing continuing education opportunities. While the committee strives to provide best service, sometimes things can go wrong for reasons that are beyond anyone’s control. To make the experience of the course participants and the organizers enjoyable, some general guidelines are presented here. Following these can be very important to ensure that you are admitted to the course. The last few days before a course numbers must be submitted for catering, manual printing, classroom set-up, etc. More importantly, it may make the difference in becoming registered for a course with strict student limits.

PLEASE NOTE SOME IMPORTANT MCF POLICIES:

1. Register early. Confirm any "reserved" class space within 10 business days by payment with a company check or PO#. You will be sent a course confirmation after payment (or PO#) is received. SPECIAL NOTE: If you are reserving a space and the course fills, you will be contacted and given 48 hours to confirm your space. After that time, the reserved slot may be filled with any students that may be on the waiting list.
2. You must have a course confirmation to be admitted to the course. Remember to check with Jan at least one week prior to the class if you have not received your confirmation.
3. Course instructors cannot register students for a course or extend the registration limit of a closed course. Please do not contact the course instructors for last minute dispensation to enter a closed course. Besides placing them in an awkward position, they often do not know the status of the registration count. Although we make every attempt to accommodate late registrants, it may not be possible always. MCF prides itself in the quality of its course offerings and will not exceed the student to instrument ratio, an unfair practice for those already registered.

Now that you know how to make registering an easy and painless process – We wish you the best of luck!