High Resolution Mass Spectrometry to enhance hormonal profiling across the lifespan.
Award Number
BB/V019066/1Programme
Research GrantStatus / Stage
CompletedDates
15 August 2021 -31 December 2022
Duration (calculated)
01 years 04 monthsFunder(s)
BBSRC (UKRI)Funding Amount
£749,033.00Funder/Grant study page
BBSRC UKRIContracted Centre
University of EdinburghPrincipal Investigator
Professor Ruth AndrewPI Contact
Ruth.Andrew@ed.ac.ukPI ORCID
0000-0002-6916-2994WHO Catergories
Understanding Underlying DiseaseDisease Type
Dementia (Unspecified)CPEC Review Info
| Reference ID | 688 |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Reside Team |
| Published | 07/07/2023 |
Data
| Award Number | BB/V019066/1 |
|---|---|
| Status / Stage | Completed |
| Start Date | 20210815 |
| End Date | 20221231 |
| Duration (calculated) | 01 years 04 months |
| Funder/Grant study page | BBSRC UKRI |
| Contracted Centre | University of Edinburgh |
| Funding Amount | £749,033.00 |
Abstract
Steroid hormones are vital for health and underpin disease. Glucocorticoids modulate inflammation and stress. Sex hormones fine-tune reproduction and drive sex differences in health. Vitamin D maintains healthy bones and growth. Here we introduce high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) to improve specificity and throughput of hormone profiling. MS offers gold-standard steroid measures allowing absolute quantitation, high sensitivity and confident identification. Increasingly targeted, multi-hormone profiles are preferred to single hormone assays and we are globally recognised for bespoke profiles of adrenal and gonadal steroids, and Vitamin D. We aim to profile in high-throughput for population studies and also in low sample volume in model organisms. However, as profiles build and enrich, we face significant challenges in retaining analytical specificity with fast turnover. Overlap of mass spectra of active, inactive and isobaric hormones (e.g. natural stable isotopes) must be avoided. Our expertise ensures highly robust analysis but at the expense of time. Sometimes we must conduct 2 different analyses, using double sample volume, limiting in neonates and rodents, or apply arithmetic corrections. We increasingly support biobanks (e.g. COVID Recovery Trial), exceeding realistic throughput. We must attenuate the risk of error as we widen our use of profiling. High resolution MS offers orthogonal specificity, increasing confidence in identification within complex mixes. We will also operate faster by linking to multiplex chromatography. Thus we will improve throughput, reduce sample volumes, avoid multiple analyses and increase specificity against unknown confounders. New workflows will expedite and enhance internationally leading research into adrenal and gonadal steroids and Vitamin D in healthy ageing and the interface with lifestyle and diet in humans, animals and model organisms. We will no longer compromise breadth of profiling versus speed and sample size.
Aims
We aim to profile in high-throughput for population studies and also in low sample volume in model organisms.