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Biography
Dr Griffiths graduated with an MSci in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham in 2010, discovering a passion for mass spectrometry during her final year project. She went on to complete a PhD under the supervision of Professor Josephine Bunch, investigating routes to controlling lipid adduct formation in complex biological samples via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. In 2014 she secured a Research Fellow post in Professor Helen Cooper's laboratory (School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham) where she developed liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA) mass spectrometry methods for the direct analysis of intact proteins, both denatured and folded, and non-covalent protein complexes from biological samples such as dried blood spots and thin tissue sections. In January 2019 she moved to Nottingham for a Research Fellow position in Professor Morgan Alexander's laboratory. In October 2019 she became an independent Anne McLaren Fellow.
Expertise Summary
Dr Griffiths has experience with a wide range of surface-sampling mass spectrometry and imaging approaches including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI), liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA), Flowprobe and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Her research has encompassed the analysis of small molecule metabolites, lipids, intact proteins and non-covalent protein complexes. Ion mobility separation, a surface compatible separation approach, is also one of her particular interests. This offers the benefits of molecular separation and improved sensitivity.
Research Summary
Dr Griffiths' research focuses on surface sampling mass spectrometry of biological analytes such as protein, lipids and metabolites. Her research sits at a nexus of chemical, biological and physical… read more
Current Research
Dr Griffiths' research focuses on surface sampling mass spectrometry of biological analytes such as protein, lipids and metabolites. Her research sits at a nexus of chemical, biological and physical sciences and is highly interdisciplinary. Dr Griffiths is interested in developing methods for the direct analysis of biological samples that have an application in improving human health and understanding disease. Specific examples include the analysis of Mycobacterial lipids from colonies grown on agar plates, metabolite analysis from bacteria colonised surfaces and proteins from thin tissue sections.