Development of Rapid Diagnostic Test for confirmatory and stratified diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease using Sebum Biomarkers.

我们开发了帕金森病（PD）诊断测试平台。非侵入性收集的皮脂样品在环境条件下运输，可直接引入质谱仪，诊断结果可在约5分钟（快速靶向）或30分钟（发现）内产生。对于发现工作，我们已经表明，我们可以使用热解吸耦合质谱法（TD-MS）来识别挥发性气味，诊断生物标志物，1甚至从前驱未确诊的患者。对于快速靶向分析，我们已经开发了纸喷雾质谱法（PS-MS）用于分析，其中在“q-tip”上非侵入性地从患者收集皮脂。这种富含脂质的蜡质皮脂在实验室中被转移到一小片纸上。2本文中的分析物可以直接用于MS诊断。使用机器学习算法，我们可以区分每种方法测量的化学特征，以>85%的准确度将PD与对照分开。本项目将通过完善样本引入方法、数据分析和扩大范围来改进这些概念验证研究，以考虑该方法是否能够对PD进行分层，用于前驱症状检测（运动症状之前）和区分其他神经退行性疾病（包括多系统萎缩）。您将负责将患者Meta数据与质谱数据相结合，以调整我们的机器学习算法。学生将与工业项目合作伙伴沃茨公司合作，开发一种使用离子迁移率质谱法对皮脂生物标志物进行快速诊断测试的方法。您将加入迈克尔·巴伯协作质谱中心，该中心有六个质谱研究小组，得到技术人员的大力支持，并使用一套最先进的质谱仪以及所需的数据分析工具

We have developed diagnostic test platforms for Parkinson's disease (PD). A sebum sample collected non-invasively, transported in ambient conditions can be directly introduced to mass spectrometer and diagnostic results can be produced in ~5 minutes (rapid targeted) or 30 mins (discovery). For discovery work, we have shown that we can use thermal desorption coupled to mass spectrometry (TD-MS) to identify volatile odorous, diagnostic biomarkers, 1even from prodromal undiagnosed patients. For rapid targeted analysis we have developed paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) for analysis wherein sebum collected non-invasively from the patient on a 'q-tip'. This lipid-rich waxy sebum is, in the lab, transferred to a small piece of paper.2 The analytes present on this paper can be directly introduced for MS diagnosis. Using machine learning algorithms, we can distinguish chemical signatures measured by each method to separate PD from control with >85% accuracy. This project will improve on these proof of concept studies by refining the sample introduction method, data analysis, and broadening the scope to consider if this method is able to stratify PD, to be used for prodromal detection (prior to motor symptoms) and to distinguish between other neurodegenerative diseases, (including multiple system atrophy). You will be responsible for combining patient meta data with mass spectrometry data, to tune our machine learning algorithms. Working with the industrial project partners Waters Corp. the student will develop a rapid diagnostic test for biomarkers from sebum with ion mobility mass spectrometry.You will join the Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass spectrometry where there are six mass spectrometry research groups, well supported by technical staff and working with a suite of state of the art mass spectrometers as well as the required data analysis tools