Specialization
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), endocrinology laboratory, patient diagnostics, analytical performance, non-targeted analysis
Focus of research
Improving diagnostic methods in endocrinology is crucial, as more accurate and comprehensive testing can lead to earlier diagnosis of disorders, more informed treatment decisions, and ultimately improved patient outcomes. Despite significant technological advances, the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in clinical laboratories for endocrine diagnostics remains rare. However, HRMS has demonstrated significant benefits in other scientific fields, such as metabolomics and proteomics, due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and ability to analyze complex biological samples.
It could be that implementing HRMS in the endocrine clinical laboratory will enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency compared to current routine analytical methods and may enable the discovery of novel biomarkers for endocrine disorders.
My PhD project will systematically evaluate the performance, potential, and theoretical advantages of HRMS in the context of endocrine diagnostics. I will involve a direct comparison of HRMS with existing routine analyses performed on LC-MS/MS instruments. Additionally, I will investigate how current methods can be adapted or improved using HRMS, and explore the development of new analytical strategies. These may include combining multiple analyses into a single workflow, expanding the range of detectable analytes, and employing screening and non-targeted approaches. The latter will also be used to identify new endocrine markers, hormones or related metabolites that could serve as diagnostic indicators.