Technology tools for better mass spectrometry to study biology
Official title: Technology Developments in Biomedical Mass Spectrometry
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11381221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national research project is developing new noninvasive sampling methods and improved data analysis tools for mass spectrometry to help understand biology and disease, including in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $423,330 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156211-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants, children, and adults who participate in biomedical research using noninvasive sampling and lipidomics analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Participants needing invasive sampling techniques would not be the target for this technological development unless noninvasive alternatives are applicable.
What this research studies
This project aims to create noninvasive sampling techniques for mass spectrometry that can be used across all ages, with a special focus on making the process safe and simple for infants and children. It also plans to build better software tools to analyze mass spectrometry data, making it easier for researchers to extract meaningful information from omics studies. The work is designed to advance technology that could help study conditions characterized by lipid dysregulation, such as autism or other illnesses, by providing researchers with powerful, accessible measurement methods. The investigators intend to validate and optimize these methods in pediatric populations, ensuring biohazard-free and comfortable sampling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from safer, noninvasive sampling methods and more powerful data analysis tools that speed discovery of biomarkers and treatments for lipid-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in mass spectrometry has advanced sampling and data analysis methods, but this project aims to extend noninvasive approaches specifically for pediatric lipidomics and broader omics applications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desaire, Heather R — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Desaire, Heather R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
KC Youth Violence Prevention Center: A comprehensive plan to reduce youth violence
A program in Kansas City aims to reduce youth violence and deaths by applying a coordinated, community-focused approach.
-
Gene regulation and the genetic basis of complex traits (how our genes influence survival and trait differences)
Researchers are studying how genetic differences that affect gene regulation contribute to when and how people survive and reproduce, especially in natural populations.
-
Finding new treatments and understanding how congenital glycosylation disorders work
A research project aims to uncover how certain congenital glycosylation disorders develop and identify existing drugs that could help treat DPAGT1-CDG.
-
How ADP-ribosylation controls our antiviral defenses
Researchers are studying a cellular modification called ADP-ribosylation and how it helps the body fight viruses, with a focus on how coronaviruses interact with this process.
-
Chemoenzymatic synthesis to make biologically active molecules using enzyme libraries
A scientist team will develop enzyme-based methods to make complex drug-like molecules that could help fight cancer and other diseases.
-
DNA breaks and repair in opioid addiction
This project looks at how DNA damage and repair in brain cells may influence opioid addiction and relapse in people and animal models.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.