Colleen Crouch, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE), is one of twelve early career researchers to be named a 2023 Emerging Investigator by the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (JASMS) for demonstrating great potential to make important contributions to her respective area of research and become a future leader in her field.
Crouch was selected for her research presented in the publication, “A MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging Sample Preparation Method for Venous Thrombosis with Initial Lipid Characterization of Lab-Made and Murine Clots,” that looks at new ways to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE), a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein and affects over 900,000 people in the U.S. each year.
Through the research and collaboration with MABE Assistant Professor Bryan Good, Crouch established a protocol for using a special type of molecular imaging, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging, to look at the distribution of biomolecules in lab-made blood clots and mouse clots. This is the first step in their work to combine mass spectrometry imaging with biomechanical testing of blood clots to better understand VTE.
“I am humbled and excited to be part of such an amazing group of investigators,” said Crouch. “I am especially proud of the students, including two undergraduates from my lab, who led this project.”
The full list of 2023 Emerging Investigators and Crouch’s publication are available in the September issue of the JASMS.
Contact
Kathy Williams (williamk@utk.edu, 865-974-8615)