Development of Advanced Mass Spectrometry Methods for Targeted Metabolome Analysis

Metabolomics, with a focus on the analysis of all small molecules or the metabolome, has become an important tool for biological studies and biomarker discovery. It has a wide range of applications, including the improvement of disease diagnosis and prognosis in the clinic, the development of superior agriculture and agri-food products with enhanced production and nutritional values, and the understanding of the health effects of chemical exposures in the industry. Metabolomics requires sophisticated analytical tools to profile metabolites with high quantification accuracy and precision. The objective of this project is to develop advanced mass spectrometry methods to overcome the current challenges associated with analyzing a wide range of metabolites and lipids that are difficult to analyze using existing technologies. The developed methods will be implemented in the Metabolomics Innovation Centre to enhance analytical services offered to researchers in Canada and elsewhere for metabolomics studies. This will also benefit the industry partner, Nova Medical Testing Inc., by expanding its metabolomics product offerings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Liang Li

Student:

Partner:

Nova Medical Testing Inc.

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program: