Melissa Passarelli, Ph.D.

Concordia University

Space the ‘omics frontier: Imaging Tissues and Cells with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is an emerging technology in the analysis of cells and tissues. In this talk, I will discuss the advantages of the recent technological innovation, the OrbiSIMS instrument and its edge in analyzing biological materials. This powerful SIMS instrument produces ion images with the highest simultaneous lateral resolution (174 nm for inorganics, 1.3 µm for organics) and mass resolving power (above 240 k). At the tissue level, variations in the chemical signatures in the ion images were correlated to anatomical regions in order to linked histology with biological processes. Owing to the high spatial resolution of SIMS, the technology is also used to examine the accumulation of drug molecules in single cells. I will also describe recent endeavors using paper-spray on an orbitrap MS (CBAMS) to characterize biomedical test devices and smart chips.

Biosketch

Melissa K Passarelli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Concordia University and a CRC (CIHR, tier 2) in Spatial Omics. She started her love of SIMS imaging and instrument development in the Winograd lab at the Pennsylvania State University, where she helped develop the C60-SIMS instrument. She worked in the Ewing lab (Gothenburg Sweden) expanding her knowledge of imaging mass spectrometry. At the National Physical Laboratory (UK), she was lead researcher in the development of the OrbiSIMS instrument. She is now looking to bring this cutting-edge technology to Canada.

Date
Date(s) - December 14, 2022
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Emplacement / Location
Université de Montréal - Pavillon Jean Coutu (S1-151)