mzPeak: Designing a Scalable, Interoperable, and Future-Ready Mass Spectrometry Data Format

Advances in mass spectrometry (MS) instrumentation, including higher resolution, faster scan speeds, and improved sensitivity, have dramatically increased the data volume and complexity. The adoption of imaging and ion mobility further amplifies these challenges in proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics. Current open formats such as mzML and imzML struggle to keep pace due to large file sizes, slow data access, and limited metadata support. Vendor-specific formats offer faster access but lack interoperability and long-term archival guarantees. We here lay the groundwork for mzPeak, a next-generation community data format designed to address these challenges and support high-throughput, multidimensional MS workflows. By adopting a hybrid model that combines efficient binary storage for numerical data and both human- and machine-readable metadata storage, mzPeak will reduce file sizes, accelerate data access, and offer a scalable, adaptable solution for evolving MS technologies. For researchers, mzPeak will support complex workflows and regulatory compliance through faster access, improved metadata, and interoperability. For vendors, it offers a streamlined, open alternative to proprietary formats. mzPeak aims to become a cornerstone of MS data management, enabling sustainable, high-performance solutions for future data types and fostering collaboration across the mass spectrometry community.

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