A High-Speed Clinical Diagnostics Instrument using LAP-MALDI MS

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Cost-Effective High-Speed Clinical Diagnostics Instrument for Large Population Screening Based on Novel Liquid AP-MALDI MS Technology

  • IRAS ID

    314790

  • Contact name

    Rainer Cramer

  • Contact email

    r.k.cramer@reading.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Reading

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 11 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    The aim of the project is to develop a new method for rapid (clinical) diagnostics of disease using a mass spectrometric platform. Samples will be screened for markers of disease which can be accurately detected by mass spectrometry (MS).
    Within this project we want to extend our knowledge from laboratory samples and veterinary disease detection to other biological matrices, including human biofluids. MS has the potential to bring advancements to the health services, particularly for mass testing campaigns, for example of infectious diseases.
    For this, we will use biological fluids that are mainly non- or minimally invasively collected, such as oral or nasal fluid, urine, and blood, as well as sebum. Only small volumes (typically <1-10 mL) will be collected per sample.
    The research project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSCR) for a period of 3 years. Clinical samples will be collected from patients undergoing normal clinical care at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
    We aim to [A] develop new sample preparation protocols that are adequate for MS analysis and [B] build reliable models for disease classification using mass spectral features.

  • REC name

    South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/SC/0380

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Dec 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion