Development of diagnostic indicators of community-wide health using WBE with state-of-the-art hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques

本研究项目旨在利用液相色谱-串联质谱（LC-MS）技术，通过基于废水的流行病学（WBE）开发社区精神健康和压力指标。在这个项目中有多个目标要完成：首先，建立外源性（外部来源，例如，抗抑郁药和苯二氮卓类药物）和内源性（内部来源，例如，激素和异前列腺素）生物标志物目前在WBE中使用，通过确定新的生物标志物，可以用作心理健康和压力的代理。其次，开发一种新的LC-MS方法，以促进第一个目标中鉴定的新生物标志物的鉴定和定量。第三，在量化这些用于监测社区心理健康和压力的生物标志物后，我将在社区之间进行数据三角测量和比较分析，以比较他们的心理健康和压力，并考虑各种潜在影响，包括社会经济差异和其他方法记录的健康指标。该项目的应用是通过识别新的生物标记物来评估社区范围内的心理健康状况，从而开展WBE领域的研究。该项目将直接为现有的可量化生物标志物库做出贡献，为未来的疾病暴发提供早期预警系统。这项研究的主要益处在于公共卫生。因此，要进行的研究与工程和物理科学研究委员会（EPSRC）的目标直接相关。“在工程和物理科学领域创造知识，使英国有能力造福社会和经济”。因此，通过提供疾病爆发的早期预警系统，这项研究直接造福于社会。第二位导师是心理学系教授朱莉·巴奈特教授，她在公共卫生方面具有专长。在数据分析期间，Barnett教授可以协助将这些数据与社区卫生和社会经济指标进行三角测量，以准确解释有关公共卫生的数据。第三位导师Kathryn Proctor博士是巴斯大学材料和化学表征设施的质谱专家。质谱分析是我在项目中使用的主要分析技术；他们的专业知识将帮助我进行培训、分析和解决我可能遇到的任何问题。英国研究与创新，2022年10月13日更新，https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/

This research project aims to develop community-wide mental health and stress indicators via Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).There are multiple objectives to be completed within this project:Firstly, building on the exogenous (external origin, for example, anti-depressants & benzodiazepines) and endogenous (internal origin, for example, hormones and isoprostanes) biomarkers currently used during WBE by Identifying new biomarkers which could be used as a proxy for mental health and stress. Secondly, to develop a new LC-MS method to facilitate the identification and quantification of new biomarkers identified in the first objective.Thirdly, upon quantification of these biomarkers, used to monitor the mental health and stress in a community, I will perform data triangulation and a comparative analysis between communities to compare their mental health and stress, factoring in various potential impacts, including socioeconomic differences and health indicators recorded by alternative methods.The application of this project is to develop research in the field of WBE by identifying new biomarkers which can be used to assess community-wide mental health status. This project will directly contribute to the current repository of quantifiable biomarkers to deliver future early warning systems for disease outbreaks.The primary benefit of this research is in public health. Therefore, the research to be undertaken is directly relevant to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) aims. To 'create knowledge in engineering and physical sciences for UK capability to benefit society and the economy'. [1] Therefore, by providing early warning systems for disease outbreaks, this research directly benefits society.The second supervisor, Prof Julie Barnett, a professor in the Department of Psychology, has expertise in public health. During data analysis, Prof Barnett can assist in triangulating this data with community health and socioeconomic indicators to accurately interpret the data concerning public health. The third supervisor, Dr Kathryn Proctor, is the mass spectrometry specialist in the Material and Chemical Characterisation Facility at the University of Bath. Mass Spectrometry is the primary analytical technique I will use during my project; their expertise will assist me with training, analysis and any troubleshooting I may encounter.References:1. UK Research and Innovation, updated 2022, 13th October 2022, https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/