This work lead by current student, Alexandria Van Grouw, entitled “Toward Machine Learning Electrospray Ionization Sensitivity Prediction for Semiquantitative Lipidomics in Stem Cells”, was published in ACS affiliated journal, Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling. This work addresses the challenges that arise from variability in electrospray ionization response when comparing multiple batches of both targeted and non-targeted mass spectrometry datasets. As patient recruitment is a long, arduous process among stem cell studies, this is batch-to-batch phenomenon is encountered frequently. In this publication, a machine learning model was developed that predicts electrospray ionization sensitivity for lipid classes that have shown correlation with stem cell potency to help bridge the gaps present between batches and between targeted and non-targeted datasets.
Congratulations to Xin on his next career move!
It’s with heavy hearts but also much excitement that we congratulate Dr. Xin Ma on his new role as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Virginia. Xin contributed so much to the expertise and community of the lab and will be greatly missed. We know this next adventure will hold both great accomplishments and challenges, but we could not be more confident in Xin and his abilities!
We’re so happy for you, Xin, and wish you all the best!
Congratulations to Jada on a successful masters dissertation and defense!
Jada Gray is the newest minted masters degree from the Fernández group! Congratulations again to Jada, and we wish you the best in all your future endeavors with Dr. Mijin Kim and her group. We know you’re going to be an amazing success.
Check out our newest publication!
This work lead by former Fernández lab member, Dr. Samyukta Sah, and current student, Elisabeth Schwiebert, entitled “Metabolomics of Papanicolaou Tests for the Discovery of Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers”, was published in metabolites. This work is the first, to our knowledge, to evaluate residual Papanicolaou (Pap) tests as a potential biospecimen for metabolomics and lipidomics studies. In this first-stage, feasibility study, we were able to detect and annotate numerous lipid species in all of our non-cancerous samples that we plan to compare to cancerous samples in future.
Check out our newest publication!
This work lead by Dmitry Leontyev entitled “Desorption Electrospray Ionization Cyclic Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Traumatic Brain Injury Spatial Metabolomics” published in Analytical Chemistry enabled the recognition of multiply charged phosphoinositide species that had previously not been reported in traumatic brain injury (TBI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) studies.
The Fernández Lab goes to MANA 2024!
Several members of the Fernández lab traveled to Tampa, Florida, for the 2024 meeting of the Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA). Drs. Xin Ma and Olatomiwa Bifarin and graduate students, Elisabeth Schwiebert and Katherine Kenney, all had the opportunity to present their research projects.
Congratulations, Dr. Asef!
Carter Asef is the newest Ph.D. graduate of the Fernández Lab! He recently defended his thesis, titled “Advanced Approaches for Metabolite Identification by Mass Spectrometry,” and we could not be more proud! He will be joining Andson Biotech as a field application scientist for the DynaCHIP platform, a device for automated sample purification ahead of mass spectrometry.
Congratulations again, Carter, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in the future!
Check out our newest publication!
This work led in part by Alex Van Grouw entitled “Investigation of MSC potency metrics via integration of imaging modalities with lipidomic characterization” published in Cell Reports shows how the use of label-free differential phase contrast imaging and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) aided in the identification of differences in lipid signatures in morphologically defined MSC subpopulations and of higher abundances of certain lipid classes involved in cellular immune functions.
Congratulations and well wishes to Daniel on his next career move!
We recently said good-bye and good luck to one of our postdoctoral research fellows, Dr. Daniel Vallejo, as he prepares to start his new position as a Conservation Scientist in the Scientific Research Department at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.!
We cannot wait to see the great things that he will accomplish and wish him all the best!