In this workshop, participants will gain theoretical and practical insights into the analysis of untargeted MS-based lipidomics data. The attendees will be guided through a step-by-step introduction to the free and open-source software Lipid Data Analyzer 2 (LDA2), covering not only the software's hands-on use but also providing a critical overview of common challenges and pitfalls encountered in lipidomics MS data analysis. A key component of the workshop is the decision rule concept, which enables the accurate and automated annotation of lipids at multiple levels of structural detail. Participants will delve into the rationale behind these rules and learn the principles of how to extend and adapt decision rule sets for additional lipid classes and MS-instruments. In addition, a tool for the accurate and automated annotation of ω-positions in complex lipids will be introduced.
Complementing the theoretical discussions, the workshop will include hands-on training segments. Through these practical sessions, attendees will develop the skills necessary to confidently apply LDA in their own research, ultimately enhancing their capability to reliably identify and quantify lipids.