Book excerpt: The first book to offer a blueprint for overcoming the challenges to successfully quantifying biomarkers in living organisms The demand among scientists and clinicians for targeted quantitation experiments has experienced explosive growth in recent years. While there are a few books dedicated to bioanalysis and biomarkers in general, until now there were none devoted exclusively to addressing critical issues surrounding this area of intense research. Target Biomarker Quantitation by LC-MS provides a detailed blueprint for quantifying biomarkers in biological systems. It uses numerous real-world cases to exemplify key concepts, all of which were carefully selected and presented so as to allow the concepts they embody to be easily expanded to future applications, including new biomarker development. Target Biomarker Quantitation by LC-MS primarily focuses on the assay establishment for biomarker quantitation—a critical issue rarely treated in depth. It offers comprehensive coverage of three core areas of biomarker assay establishment: the relationship between the measured biomarkers and their intended usage; contemporary regulatory requirements for biomarker assays (a thorough understanding of which is essential to producing a successful and defendable submission); and the technical challenges of analyzing biomarkers produced inside a living organism or cell. Covers the theory of and applications for state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and chromatography and their applications in biomarker analysis Features real-life examples illustrating the challenges involved in target biomarker quantitation and the innovative approaches which have been used to overcome those challenges Addresses potential obstacles to obtain effective biomarker level and data interpretation, such as specificity establishment and sample collection Outlines a tiered approach and fit-for-purpose assay protocol for target biomarker quantitation Highlights the current state of the biomarker regulatory environment and protocol standards Target Biomarker Quantitation by LC-MS is a valuable resource for bioanalytical scientists, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics scientists, clinical scientists, analytical chemists, and others for whom biomarker quantitation is an important tool of the trade. It also functions as an excellent text for graduate courses in pharmaceutical, biochemistry and chemistry.