What MS Bioworks does

MS Bioworks is a private contract research organization (CRO) that delivers protein mass spectrometry and proteomics services on a fee-for-service basis. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in a 7,000 sq ft laboratory at 3950 Varsity Dr, Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company processes customer-submitted biological samples using a stack of high-resolution LC-MS/MS instrumentation that includes the Orbitrap Astral, Orbitrap Exploris 480, Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid, and Q Exactive mass spectrometers. Its service portfolio is organized into four main categories — Quant-Works (DIA, LFQ, TMT, SILAC, PRM), PTM-Works (phospho, glyco, histone profiling), IP-Works (immunoprecipitation and protein complex mapping), and Protein-Works (protein ID, sequence confirmation, intact mass, profiling) — together with specialized offerings in MHC immunopeptidomics, spatial proteomics (via its Syncell partnership), Olink Reveal NGS-based plasma proteomics, reactive cysteine profiling for covalent drug discovery, and Custom-Works for bespoke projects. Cumulative scale disclosed on its website is 80,000+ samples processed, 12,000+ projects completed, 2,000+ global customers, and 16,000+ scientific citations.

Name

MS Bioworks

Legal name

MS Bioworks

Website

https://msbioworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MS Bioworks is a privately held Ann Arbor-based contract research organization providing protein mass spectrometry and proteomics services to academic, government, and pharmaceutical researchers using Orbitrap LC-MS/MS instrumentation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Proteomics Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Services (HLAGANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Proteomics & Biomarker Analytical Testing (HLAGADAG), Biomarker Discovery & Validation (omics, assay feasibility, clinical validation) (HLAAAMAA), Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI)

Keywords

• Mass spectrometry services
• Proteomics services
• Contract research organization
• Protein analysis
• Post-translational modification analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Proteomics Testing Services: Laboratory analytical services providing protein identification, quantification, PTM analysis, immunopeptidomics, spatial proteomics, and screening services to academic and pharmaceutical researchers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MS Bioworks is a protein mass spectrometry contract research organization that provides fee-for-service proteomics analysis on customer-submitted samples using LC-MS/MS instrumentation. Core offerings span quantitative proteomics (DIA, label-free, TMT, SILAC, PRM), post-translational modification analysis (phosphorylation, glycosylation, histone profiling), immunoprecipitation-based protein complex mapping, and routine protein identification/sequencing/intact-mass services, alongside specialized offerings such as MHC Immunopeptidomics, Spatial Proteomics (with Syncell), Proteome Screening Services, Olink Reveal plasma proteomics, and Reactive Cysteine Profiling for drug target characterization.

Product overview

MS Bioworks offers a comprehensive proteomics service portfolio centered on protein mass spectrometry and LC-MS/MS analysis. The core offerings are organized into four main service categories: Quant-Works (quantitative proteomics including DIA, label-free, TMT, SILAC, and targeted PRM), PTM-Works (post-translational modification analysis including phosphorylation, glycosylation, and histone profiling), IP-Works (protein complex mapping via immunoprecipitation), and Protein-Works (core facility services for protein ID, sequence confirmation, intact mass, and profiling). Additional specialized services include MHC Immunopeptidomics, Spatial Proteomics (powered by Syncell technology), Proteome Screening Services, Olink Reveal Plasma Proteomics (NGS-based), Reactive Cysteine Profiling, and Custom-Works for tailored projects. The company operates state-of-the-art Orbitrap Astral, Orbitrap Exploris 480, Orbitrap Fusion Lumos, and Q Exactive mass spectrometers with advanced data analysis pipelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quant-Works Suite of quantitative proteomics services enabling protein dynamics analysis across cell, tissue, or organism samples. Bundles Data Independent Acquisition (DIA), Label-Free Quantitation (LFQ), TMT multiplexing, SILAC metabolic labeling, and Targeted Proteomics (PRM) for academic, government, and pharmaceutical researchers needing comparative protein abundance measurements.
• PTM-Works Post-Translational Modification analysis services for identifying, quantifying, and localizing PTMs on target proteins or globally across submitted samples. Includes PTM Profiling, PTM Profiling Plus, Phospho-screen, Glyco-screen, and Quantitative Histone Profiling for researchers studying phosphorylation, glycosylation, and histone modifications.
• IP-Works Protein complex mapping and immunoprecipitation-based protein analysis services for studying protein-protein interactions and producing molecular profiles of enriched samples.
• Protein-Works Core-facility protein analysis services including protein identification from gel/solution, protein sequence confirmation with multi-protease digestion, intact mass measurement of peptides to intact antibodies, and protein profiling with configurable instrument time.
• Custom-Works Custom proteomics projects tailored to specific research needs, including immunopeptidome analysis, chemical proteomics, metabolic labeling, and protein characterization for biotherapeutics.
• MHC Immunopeptidomics Large-scale study of antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules (HLA in humans) for understanding immune recognition in cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Includes neoantigen quantitation and frameshift-derived InDel neoepitope analysis delivered in partnership with Cayman Chemical.
• Spatial Proteomics Industry-first high-resolution spatial proteomics service developed with Syncell that uses Microscoop photobiotinylation technology combined with Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometry for unbiased spatial proteomic discovery and protein mapping at subcellular resolution.
• Proteome Screening Services Deep proteome screening platform integrating automation, high-resolution chromatography, Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometry, and advanced data analysis pipelines for rapid and reproducible quantification of thousands of proteins across large sample sets, including degrader-target identification with a two-week typical turnaround.
• Olink Reveal Plasma Proteomics NGS-based high-throughput protein quantification service delivered as an Olink Certified Service Provider, quantifying approximately 1,100 biologically relevant proteins from just 4 µL of plasma, serum, or other matrices with high sensitivity and reproducibility, partnered with University of Michigan BRCF Advanced Genomics Core for sequencing.
• Reactive Cysteine Profiling Chemical proteomics tool for identifying or confirming a drug's binding site, identifying off-target effects, and identifying ligandable cysteines on a protein of interest, using advanced high-resolution mass spectrometry with desthiobiotin-iodoacetamide (DBIA) probes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16,000+ global scientific citations validating research impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• SyncellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry-first partnership to provide high-resolution spatial proteomics services combining Syncell's Microscoop photobiotinylation technology with MS Bioworks Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometry for unprecedented protein constituent discovery and mapping at tissue level
• OlinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Service Provider for OLink Reveal Plasma Proteomics, offering NGS-based proteomics that quantifies ~1,100 biologically relevant proteins from just 4µL of plasma using Next-Generation Sequencing technology
• University of Michigan BRCF Advanced Genomics CoresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSequencing service partner for Olink Reveal Assay offered through MS Bioworks
• Cayman ChemicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide comprehensive immunopeptidome profiling services including Class I and Class II MHC peptide analysis for cancer research
• Promega CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical proteomics collaboration offering services for quantitative and qualitative profiling of small molecule protein interactions, including work on BTK and PI3K inhibitors
• Arbor Day FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental philanthropy partnership planting 10 trees for every order received, with goal of planting 10,000 trees annually

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cell Signaling Technology (CST): Offers proteomics services alongside its antibody and assay reagents portfolio, including PTM and signaling-focused mass-spec work for academic and pharma researchers. Comparable as a US-based proteomics service provider with overlapping pharma and academic customers.
• Proteome Sciences: UK-listed specialty proteomics CRO focused on biomarker discovery, PTM analysis, and mass spectrometry services for pharma and diagnostics. Closely comparable in scientific niche (PTMs, biomarkers) and service-based business model.
• Biognosys: Swiss specialty proteomics CRO offering discovery proteomics, targeted proteomics, and PTM analysis using advanced mass spectrometry. Most direct comparable in scale, scope, and customer base (pharma + academic) to MS Bioworks.

Broad incumbents

• Promega Corporation: Major life-science tools provider that also runs proteomics and chemical-proteomics services and collaborates with MS Bioworks. Overlaps in proteomics services and pharma/biotech customer base but operates as part of a much larger reagent/instrument portfolio.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global lab testing services giant with proteomics, biomarker, and pharma CRO capabilities including mass-spectrometry-based workflows. Competes for outsourced proteomics work from large pharma, though proteomics is one small piece of a much broader services portfolio.
• Charles River Laboratories: Large CRO with discovery and safety assessment services that includes proteomics and biomarker capabilities. Competes for pharma discovery budgets and offers a one-stop-shop alternative to specialty proteomics providers like MS Bioworks.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Pharma Services): Owns the Orbitrap platform MS Bioworks runs and offers PPD CRO services including proteomics and biomarker analysis. Competes both as an instrument vendor and as a potential internalizer of outsourced proteomics work for pharma customers.
• SGS: Global testing and inspection company with life-sciences and clinical trial laboratory services including bioanalytical and biomarker assays. Comparable as a large-scale alternative for outsourced laboratory services, though proteomics is a smaller share of its portfolio.
• Evotec: Global drug-discovery CRO offering proteomics, target identification, and biomarker services alongside broader R&D capabilities. Overlaps with MS Bioworks in pharma proteomics services but operates a much larger integrated discovery platform.

Emerging players

• Olink: Protein biomarker platform whose Olink Reveal NGS-based proteomics assay MS Bioworks offers as a Certified Service Provider. Comparable as an emerging proteomics services/tools player, though focused on affinity-based rather than mass-spec workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MS Bioworks