A Broader Way to Discover Biology in Molecular Data
Magellan Bioanalytics has developed a new computational approach to extracting biological information from complex molecular data. At the center of this work is COMPASS, a technology platform designed to use more of the available data, reduce assumptions about what matters before analysis begins, and reveal meaningful patterns, markers, and biological relationships that might otherwise remain hidden.
Mass spectrometry is the first application of this framework. COMPASS is designed to take fuller advantage of the extraordinary depth of information these instruments generate while expanding the scale at which that information can be explored—from deep analysis of individual samples to comparative studies across hundreds or thousands of samples. The result is an opportunity to use mass spectrometry as a much broader discovery platform and bring its molecular depth to the scale of modern omics research.
The larger vision extends beyond mass spectrometry. COMPASS is designed to bring mass spectrometry, sequencing, and other molecular data into a common analytical context, allowing complementary views of biology to be explored together rather than in isolation. More of the data, across more samples and more molecular perspectives, create the opportunity to uncover biological signals, relationships, and markers that are difficult to see through any one approach alone.
More Data. More Samples. A Broader View of Biology.
Modern analytical technologies can generate extraordinary amounts of information from biological samples. The challenge is not simply producing that data, but preserving enough of it—and comparing it across enough samples—to reveal meaningful biological relationships.
COMPASS was developed around that challenge.
Rather than requiring analysis to begin with a small set of predefined molecules, COMPASS can compare broad measurement spaces across biological populations and identify the signals and relationships most strongly associated with a biological state, experimental condition, or outcome.
This creates a different starting point for discovery: first determine where the meaningful information resides, then focus molecular identification and biological interpretation on those signals.
A Common Analytical Context
Preserve the Measurement Space
COMPASS minimizes premature data reduction, allowing potentially informative measurements to remain available for comparative analysis.
Compare Across Populations
Measurements can be evaluated across groups of samples to identify differential signals, patterns of co-variation, and other relationships associated with biological differences.
Connect Analytical Layers
Mass spectrometry measurements can be considered alongside complementary omics data, allowing multiple forms of biological information to contribute to a more integrated view of the system being studied.
© Magellan Bioanalytics 2026
Demonstrated in Biological Research
COMPASS has been applied to complex biological datasets in both collaborative and peer-reviewed research.
Treatment-Response Study
In a blinded analysis containing approximately one million measurements per sample, COMPASS identified a relatively small group of signals that distinguished pre-treatment samples from samples collected following successful treatment.
Subsequent molecular investigation connected identified signals with biology relevant to the disease and treatment response.
Published Research
A peer-reviewed study published in Cancers applied COMPASS to serum mass spectrometry data from early- and late-stage breast cancer populations, demonstrating whole-dataset comparative analysis and machine-learning-based evaluation of complex MS1 data.
Proprietary Technology
Magellan has developed proprietary computational methods for organizing, comparing, and interpreting high-dimensional biological data.
The company maintains intellectual property protections around key elements of its analytical architecture and methodologies.