Research in the Eberlin group focuses on applying novel mass spectrometry imaging technology to health related research. Our main goal is to develop innovative ambient mass spectrometry techniques and methodologies in combination with statistical and molecular biology tools to investigate the molecular information from a variety of biological samples. In particular, we are interested in using ambient mass spectrometry in creative ways to address critical problems in cancer research. Using ambient mass spectrometry, we investigate the metabolic profiles of tissues and other clinical specimens. We correlate the metabolic information obtained with molecular and clinical data to better understand and diagnose disease. In basic cancer research, we are interested in studying tumor tissue behavior and chemically characterizing metabolic signatures of human cancers. We also pursue improvements in MS instrumentation in order to translate the tools developed in the laboratory to the clinic for in situ, real-time disease diagnosis. Our interdisciplinary research is carried out in collaboration with biologists, oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, engineers and statisticians to develop powerful approaches that can be used in real life scenarios such as in clinical practice. For more information on our exciting research projects, please visit our group website: https://eberlin.cm.utexas.edu/ 

1. J. Zhang, J. Rector, J. Lin, J.H. Young, M. Sans, N. Katta, N. Giese, W. Yu, C. Nagi, J. Suliburk, J. Liu, A. Bensussan, R.J. DeHoog, K.Y. Garza, B. Ludolph, A.G.Sorace, A. Syed, A. Zahedivash, T. Milner, and L.S. Eberlin, “Nondestructive Tissue Analysis for Ex Vivo and In Vivo Cancer Diagnosis using a Handheld Mass Spectrometry System”, Science Translational Medicine, 2017, 9, eaan3968.
2. M. Sans, K. Gharpure, R. Tibshirani, J. Zhang, L. Liang, J. Liu, A.K. Sood, and L. S. Eberlin, “Metabolic Markers and Statistical Prediction of Serous Ovarian Cancer Aggressiveness by Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging”, Cancer Research, 2017, 77, 2903-2913.
3. J. Zhang, C. Feider, C. Nagi, W. Yu, S. A. Carter, J. Suliburk, H. S. Tran Cao, and L. S. Eberlin, “Detection of Metastatic Breast and Thyroid Cancer in Lymph Nodes by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging”, Journal of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry, 2017, 28, 1166-1174. 
4. C.L. Feider, N. Elizondo, and L.S. Eberlin, “Ambient Ionization and FAIMS Mass Spectrometry for Enhanced Imaging of Multiply Charged Molecular Ions in Biological Tissues”, Analytical Chemistry, 2016, 88, 11533-11541
5. J. Zhang, W. Yu, S. Ryu, J. Lin, G. Buentello, R. Tibshirani, J. Suliburk, and L.S. Eberlin, “Cardiolipins are biomarkers of mitochondria-rich thyroid oncocytic tumors”, Cancer Research, 2016, 76, 6588-6597.
6. J. Zhang, W. Yu, J. Suliburk, and L.S. Eberlin, “Will ambient ionization mass spectrometry become an integral technology in the operating room of the future?”, Clinical Chemistry, 2016, 62, 1172-1174
7. D.R. Ifa and L.S. Eberlin, “Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Cancer Diagnosis and Surgical Margin Evaluation”, Clinical Chemistry, 2016, 62, 111-123.
8. L.S. Eberlin, J.V. Mulcahy, A. Tzabazis, J. Zhang, M. Logan, H.J. Roberts, G.K. Lee, D.C. Yeomans, J. Du Bois, and R.N. Zare, “Visualizing Dermal Permeation of Sodium Channel Modulators by Mass Spectrometric Imaging”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014, 136, 6401-6405.
9. L.S. Eberlin, I. Norton, D. Orringer, I. F. Dunn, X. Liu, J.L. Ide, A.K. Jarmusch, K.L. Ligon, F.A. Jolesz, A.J. Golby, S. Santagata, N.Y. R. Agar and R.G. Cooks, “Ambient Mass Spectrometry for the Intraoperative Molecular Diagnosis of Human Brain Tumors”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U. S.A., 2013, 110, 1611-1616.
10. L.S. Eberlin, I. Norton, A.L. Dill, A.J. Golby, K.L. Ligon, S. Santagata, R.G. Cooks and N.Y.R. Agar, "Classifying Human Brain Tumors by Lipid Imaging with Mass Spectrometry", Cancer Research, 2012, 72, 645-654.
11. L.S. Eberlin, D.R. Ifa, C.Wu, R.G. Cooks, "Three-Dimensional Visualization of Mouse Brain by Lipid Analysis Using Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry", Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2010, 49, 873-876.

For a full list, please see: https://eberlin.cm.utexas.edu/publications/

2017      Named “Science Super Hero” by Discovery Channel Communications, Inc.
2017      Marion Milligan Mason Award for Women in the Chemical Sciences
2015      K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award NIH/NCI
2015      Named among “Forbes’ 30 under 30” list in Science and Healthcare
2014      L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship
2014      American Chemical Society (ACS) Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry
2012      M.G. Mellon Award in Analytical Chemistry, Purdue University, IN, USA