Health and Environmental Assessment Laboratory (HEAL) Service Center at Lehigh University
The HEAL Service Center is housed in HST Building L150 within the College of Health at Lehigh University. The service center includes bench space for sample processing and analysis within the 36,000 sqft of collaborative, open-concept laboratories.
The HEAL Service Center accommodates a wide range of project needs, from simple targeted quantification of a handful of compounds to large-scale omics studies. Microflow-based proteomics workflows are capable of detecting close to 3,000 proteins from a single sample, making the lab well suited for studies requiring deep protein coverage from limited material. On the metabolomics side, both targeted and untargeted approaches are available across a broad range of biological and environmental matrices, covering studies that link environmental exposures to molecular-level changes in the body. Support is available at every stage, from sample preparation and method development through data analysis and interpretation.
Located in Bethlehem, PA, our facility is just one hour from Philadelphia and one hour from New York City, providing convenient access for researchers and industry partners across the region. This central location makes it easy to run biological samples on our state-of-the-art instrumentation without the delays and logistics of long-distance travel.
Our Mission
The mission of the HEAL Service Center is to advance collaborative research by providing accessible, state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and analytical support to faculty, academic partners, and industry in the greater Lehigh Valley region, fostering innovation and empowering investigators to achieve their scientific goals.
Lehigh University's College of Health established the HEAL Service Center in 2024, serving internal faculty, external academic partners, and industry collaborators across the greater Lehigh Valley region. The center houses highly valuable instrumentation such as a mass spectrometer with dedicated operational support, giving researchers reliable, long-term access without the burden of managing equipment independently. By centralizing these resources within the College of Health, the center connects investigators across disciplines, strengthens the university's research capacity, and helps faculty compete and prepare for grants. Researchers at any stage of a project are welcome, whether they need a quick targeted analysis or are building a large-scale study from the ground up.
Our Equipment Capabilities
The lab is built around a Thermo Fisher Vanquish LC coupled to a Q Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer, a high-resolution platform supporting both metabolomics and proteomics workflows for targeted and untargeted analysis across a broad range of sample types.
Researchers bring biological samples including blood, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, nasal fluid, gut microbiota, and tissue, as well as environmental samples such as water runoff and wastewater. For metabolomics, these matrices are analyzed to detect and quantify small molecules that reflect environmental exposures and their effects on the body. For proteomics, the lab uses a bottom-up (shotgun) approach where proteins are first digested into smaller peptide fragments, which are then separated and identified by the mass spectrometer, making it possible to profile thousands of proteins from a single sample and link changes in protein expression to environmental stressors and health outcomes.
The HEAL Service Center accommodates a wide range of project needs, from simple targeted quantification of a handful of compounds to large-scale omics studies. Support is available at every stage, including sample preparation, method development, data analysis, and interpretation.
Our Services
Environmental Contaminant Screening The lab analyzes water, wastewater, runoff, soil, dust, and airborne particulate samples for a wide range of chemical contaminants, with detection sensitivity down to trace levels.
- Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals
- PFAS and other persistent organic pollutants
- Antibiotics, drug residues, and personal care product ingredients
- Targeted analysis of known compounds and untargeted screening for unknown or unexpected chemicals
Metabolomics and Lipidomics The lab detects and quantifies thousands of small molecules in a single run across a broad range of biological and environmental matrices, including blood, plasma, urine, saliva, nasal fluid, tissue, and wastewater.
- Targeted metabolite panels for known compounds
- Untargeted metabolomics for discovery-driven research
- Applications in nutrition, environmental exposure, inflammation, oxidative stress, and disease biomarkers
Proteomics Using a bottom-up shotgun approach, the lab identifies and quantifies proteins from cells, tissues, plasma, urine, and other biological fluids, with microflow workflows routinely detecting close to 3,000 proteins per sample.
- Biomarker discovery and protein expression profiling
- Pathway analysis and exposure-response studies
- Deep proteome coverage from limited or precious sample volumes
Targeted Quantification For projects requiring precise, reproducible measurement of specific compounds, the lab develops validated methods using calibration and internal standards.
- Pollutant monitoring across environmental sampling sites
- Biomarker quantification in clinical cohorts
- Drug compounds and their metabolites
- Longitudinal tracking of specific chemicals across timepoints
Method Development and Consultation The lab works with researchers at every stage, from initial study design through data interpretation.
- Sample collection and preparation guidance
- Custom method development for new sample types or analytes
- Data analysis support
- Training for students and researchers new to mass spectrometry
Research Success Stories
Coming Soon
Contact the HEAL Service Center
The service center has established a clear point of contact to request services and for billing and payment, other communications and announcements of the service center.
Email: inhealt@lehigh.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Lehigh University's College of Health established the HEAL Service Center in 2024, serving internal faculty, external academic partners, and industry collaborators across the greater Lehigh Valley region. The center houses highly valuable instrumentation such as a mass spectrometer with dedicated operational support, giving researchers reliable, long-term access without the burden of managing equipment independently. By centralizing these resources within the College of Health, the center connects investigators across disciplines, strengthens the university's research capacity, and helps faculty compete and prepare for grants. Researchers at any stage of a project are welcome, whether they need a quick targeted analysis or are building a large-scale study from the ground up.
HEAL Affiliates/Internal: Faculty members at Lehigh University, their students, and staff who have, through appropriate procedures, established access to the HEAL Service Center and/or resources at the Internal/Sponsored Research Billing Rate.
HEAL Partners/External Academic: Faculty members at external academic institutions and community/industry organizations who have, through defined partnerships with one or more HEAL Affiliates, established access to the HEAL Service Center and/or resources at the Liaison Activity Billing Rate.
HEAL Clients/External Industry: Industry partners who have, through ongoing defined partnerships with one or more HEAL Affiliates or directly with the HEAL Service Center itself, established access to HEAL services and/or resources at the External Rate.
- Submit a Request for Service – Submit a “Request for Service,” and a member of the team will reach out to discuss your research needs.
- Consult with Our Team – Connect with our team to request services.
Email: inhealt@lehigh.edu - Begin Measuring Samples – Measure biological and environmental samples for your research.