Biography
Biography: Laura Bindila
Abstract
Lipids are molecular components which play essential roles in many physiological processes and pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, immune diseases. The lipids serve not only a constitutive role in the cell membrane, but also as the source for downstream signaling molecules, such as endocannabinoids or eicosannoids that underscore essential neurobiological functions. In neurobiology research lipids emerge as important candidates for biomarkers, drug targets, but also as therapeutic agents. To gain a better understanding of their specific functions and to define the signaling networks, especially under pathological conditions, accurate identification and quantification of lipids, as well as profiling of other molecular correlates such as related genes and proteins in one and the same tissue source is essential. In addition, (sub)localization of disease-associated lipid changes within and across tissue regions is essential to expedite the unravellign of disease mechanisms, as well as discovery of lipid-based drug targets and lipid-based therapeutic agents.
Here, advanced lipidomic strategies, combining quantitative mass spectrometry with high-throughput sample preparation for multiplex lipid analysis in minute amount of biological matrices, that enable translation of pre(clinical) features of neurological disorders into quantitative neurolipidomics will be discussed.