Development and Translation Mass Spectrometry Methods to Determine BioMarkers for Parkinson's Disease and Comorbidities

This project will use advanced mass spectrometry methods to identify lipids and other metabolites that are found in sebum and are diagnostic of Parkinson's disease. These methods will include ion mobility mass spectrometry, accurate mass determination and state of the art tandem mass spectrometry including UVPD. In collaboration with Queens University Brisbane, the candidate will implement OZ-ID to resolve the location of saturated bonds. This discovery work will enable further development of targeted mass spectrometry assays that can be used for a triage diagnostic test to determine if someone has Parkinson's disease. We have discovered that skin swabs taken from the back of people's necks are rich in a biofluid called sebum. When we analyse the components of sebum with mass spectrometry, we are able to find compounds that are substantially upregulated in people with Parkinson's disease compared to matched control subjects. We are now in a position to translate this test to an accredited clinical biochemistry environment. In this project you will learn how to advance these findings by acquiring discovery MS data. You will then translate this to a targeted assay. A secondary aim will be to determine if the same sampling and analysis approach can be used to find comorbidities.