Dr Laura Cole BSc, PhD, FHEA
Associate Head
Summary
Multimodal Mass Spectrometry Imaging within the field of Ocular Cancer Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Ocular Age-related Diseases
About
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ within the bioanalytical chemistry field has enabled Dr Cole to become an expert in multimodal mass spectrometry imaging. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI), Desorption Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging (DESI-MSI) have been the main techniques employed to investigate proteins, lipids and metabolites, followed more recently by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Imaging (LA-ICP-MSI) which she applies for the analysis of metals in a variety of biological samples (patient tissue and 3D spheroids/aggregoids).
Recently, she and her ocular research group have begun to pioneer the multimodal analysis of pattern recognition receptors and metallomics in age related macular degeneration along with disease biomarkers, proteins and metabolites in patient uveal melanoma whole eye imaging. Prior to the above, her research directions have enabled Dr Cole to be involved in the validation of anti-cancer drug Fosbretabulin (phase II/III clinical trials) and study the proteomics and lipidomics of a range of diseased clinical tissue including: breast cancer tissue, placenta used to study tyrosine kinase drug targets (epidermal growth factor receptor, epiregulin, amphiregulin) and the analysis of novel 3D tissue constructs to view unique chemical and biological profiles. Ultimately her research centres around proteomics, lipids/metabolomics, biomarker discovery and how that can be translated and potentially linked to disease pathways and networks.
Teaching
School of Biosciences and Chemistry
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Metabolic Landscape and Metallomics of Uveal Melanoma, Multimodal Mass Spectrometry Profiling and Imaging, Multi-Modal Mass Spectrometry Imaging to Investigate Drug-Induced Responses.
Bioanalytical Science, multimodal mass spectrometry and cancer research.
Teaching across all undergraduate courses: Biomedical Science, Biomedicine and Heath Science, Biology ,Biochemistry and Chemistry and Postgraduate Biomedical Laboratory Science, Cancer Biology and Pharmacology and Biotechnology.
Biomedical Science in Practice, Disease Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Biochemistry and Genetics, Applied diagnostics and Translational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
My research has focused on the study of sinusoidal and leaky tumour vasculature, its relationship with an active tumour milieu, stress response mechanisms, vascular endothelial isoforms and the molecular switch back to viable tissue. More specifically, observing protein and lipid induction as a result of anticancer treatments, and studying the multicellular, stem cell like populations within the tumour microenvironment, possibly responsible for drug treatment resistance. I have been able to map specific changes in the molecular pathology of tumour tissue showing inverse correlations between heat shock proteins and structural proteins and those species implicated in tumour progression and metastasis.
These research directions have enabled me to be involved in the validation of anti-cancer drug Fosbretabulin (phase II/III clinical trials) and study the proteomics and lipidomics of a range of diseased clinical tissue. As a member of the Centre for Mass Spectrometry Imaging at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, I have disseminated my research at conferences throughout Europe, America and Canada.
My research-informed teaching encompasses multidisciplinary techniques along with a bioanalytical theme.
Trinity College, Dublin, Waters Corporation, UK, AstraZeneca, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield, University of Surrey.
Publications
Journal articles
Krishna, R., Langridge, J., Claude, E., Bradshaw, R., Cole, L., & Francese, S. (2025). . Analytica Chimica Acta, 1354.
De Las Heras Prieto, H., Cole, L., Forbes, S., Palmer, M., & Schwartz-Narbonne, R. (2024). . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 38 (23).
Little, L.D., Barnett, S.E., Issitt, T., Bonsall, S., Carolan, V., Allen, E., ... Haywood-Small, S. (2024). . Journal of breath research, 18 (4).
Pearce, S., Cross, N.A., Smith, D.P., Clench, M., Flint, L.E., Hamm, G., ... Cole, L. (2024). . Metabolites, 14 (6).
Guarnerio, S., Tempest, R., Maani, R., Hunt, S., Cole, L.M., Le Maitre, C.L., ... Peake, N. (2023). . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (23).
Millar, J., Campbell, S., Duckett, C., Doyle, S., & Cole, L. (2023). . Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2688 (2688), 1-13.
Millar, J., Campbell, S., Duckett, C., Doyle, S., & Cole, L. (2023). . Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2688 (2688), 1-13.
Millar, J., Gibbons, L., Costa, C., Schneider, E., von Gerichten, J., Bailey, M.J., ... Cole, L. (2023). . Analytica, 4 (3), 264-279.
Russo, C., Wyld, L., Da Costa Aubreu, M., Bury, C.S., Heaton, C., Cole, L.M., & Francese, S. (2023). . Scientific Reports, 13 (1).
Clench, M.R., & Cole, L.M. (2023). Perspective: Mass Spectrometry Imaging - The Next 5 Years. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2688, 203-210.
Cole, L.M. (2023). Preface. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2688, v.
Millar, J., Ozaki, E., Campbell, S., Duckett, C., Doyle, S., & Cole, L. (2022). . Metabolites, 12 (12).
Kennedy, K., Gannicliffe, C., Cole, L., Sealey, M., & Francese, S. (2022). . Science & Justice, 62 (5), 602-609.
Kennedy, K., Cole, L., Witt, M., Sealey, M., & Francese, S. (2022). . Molecules, 27 (7).
Bury, C.S., Heaton, C., Cole, L., McColm, R., & Francese, S. (2022). . Analytical Methods.
Voloaca, O.M., Clench, M., Koellensperger, G., Cole, L., Haywood-Small, S., & Theiner, S. (2022). . Analytical Chemistry, 94, 2597-2606.
Cole, L.M., Handley, J., Claude, E., Duckett, C.J., Mudhar, H.S., Sisley, K., & Clench, M.R. (2021). . Metabolites, 11 (8).
Flint, L.E., Hamm, G., Ready, J.D., Ling, S., Duckett, C.J., Cross, N.A., ... Clench, M.R. (2021). . Metabolites, 11 (8).
Heaton, C., Witt, M., Cole, L., Eyre, J., Tazzyman, S., McColm, R., & Francese, S. (2021). . Analyst.
Kennedy, K., Benjat, R., Heaton, C., Herman, Y., Oz, C., Elad, M.L., ... Francese, S. (2021). . Forensic Science International.
Spencer, C.E., Flint, L.E., Duckett, C., Cole, L., Cross, N., Smith, D., & Clench, M. (2021). . Expert Review of Proteomics, 17 (11-12), 827-841.
Russo, C., Heaton, C., Flint, L., Voloaca, O., Haywood-Small, S., Clench, M., ... Cole, L. (2020). . Journal of Spectral Imaging, 9, 1-21.
Kennedy, K., Heaton, C., Langenburg, G., Cole, L., Clark, T., Clench, M.R., ... Francese, S. (2020). . Scientific Reports, 10 (1), 17087.
Little, L.D., Carolan, V.A., Allen, K.E., Cole, L.M., & Haywood-Small, S.L. (2020). . Journal of Breath Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 14 (4), 046011.
Pousinis, P., Ramos, I.R., Woodroofe, M.N., & Cole, L.M. (2020). . Metabolites, 10 (9), e366.
Heaton, C., Bury, C., Patel, E., Bradshaw, R., Wulfert, F., Heeren, R., ... Francese, S. (2020). . Forensic Chemistry, 20 (100271), 1-12.
Voloaca, O.M., Greenhalgh, C.J., Cole, L., Clench, M.R., Managh, A.J., & Haywood-Small, S. (2020). . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 34 (21), e8906.
Flint, L.E., Hamm, G., Ready, J.D., Ling, S., Duckett, C.J., Cross, N.A., ... Clench, M.R. (2020). . Analytical Chemistry.
Greenhalgh, C.J., Voloaca, O.M., Shaw, P., Donard, A., Cole, L.M., Clench, M.R., ... Haywood-Small, S.L. (2020). . Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.
PalubeckaitÄ—, I., Crooks, L., Smith, D., Cole, L., Bram, H., Le Maitre, C., ... Cross, N.A. (2019). . Journal of Mass Spectrometry.
Cole, L., Clench, M., & Francese, S. (2019). . Adv Exp Med Biol, 1073 (1073), 77-123.
Wojakowska, A., Cole, L., Chekan, M., Bednarczyk, K., Maksymiak, M., Oczko-Wojciechowska, M., ... Widlak, P. (2018). . Endokrynologia Polska, 69 (1), 2-8.
Selvan, A., Cole, L., Spackman, L., & Wright, C. (2017). . .
Selvan, A., Cole, L., Spackman, L., & Wright, C. (2017). . .
Harvey, A., Day, R., Cole, L.M., Bartlett, M., Warwick, J., Bojar, R., ... Clench, M.R. (2016). . Proteomics, 16 (11-12), 1718-1725.
Patel, E., Cole, L.M., Bradshaw, R., Batubara, A., Mitchell, C.A., Francese, S., & Clench, M. (2015). . Bioanalysis, 7 (1), 91-101.
Cole, L.M., Selvan, A.N., Partridge, R., Reed, H., Wright, C., & Clench, M.R. (2015). Communication of medical images to diverse audiences using multimodal imaging. Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging, 1 (1).
Cole, L., & Clench, M. (2015). . PROTEOMICS - Clinical Applications, 9 (3-4), 335-341.
Cole, L.M., & Clench, M.R. (2015). Mass spectrometry imaging tools in oncology. Biomarkers in medicine, 9 (9), 863-868.
Cole, L., Bluff, J.E., Carolan, V., Paley, M.N., Tozer, G.M., & Clench, M. (2014). . Proteomics, 14 (7-8), 890-903.
Cole, L.M., Mahmoud, K., Haywood-Small, S., Tozer, G.M., Smith, D.P., & Clench, M.R. (2013). . Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 27 (21), 2355-2362.
Mahmoud, K., Cole, L., Newton, J., Mohamed, S., Al-Enazi, M., Qirke, P., & Clench, M. (2013). . European Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 19 (1), 17-28.
Trim, P.J., Djidja, M.-.C., Muharib, T., Cole, L.M., Flinders, B., Carolan, V., ... Clench, M. (2012). . Journal of Proteomics, 75 (16), 4931-4940.
Cole, L., Djidja, M.-.C., Bluff, J., Claude, E., Carolan, V., Paley, M., ... Clench, M. (2011). . Methods, 54 (4), 442-453.
Trim, P.J., Djidja, M.C., Atkinson, S.J., Oakes, K., Cole, L.M., Anderson, D.M.G., ... Clench, M.R. (2010). . Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 397 (8), 3409-3419.
Conference papers
Millar, J., Campbell, S., Duckett, C., Doyle, S.L., & Cole, L. (2022). . Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 63 (7), 471.
Cole, L., Selvan, A., Wright, C., Reed, H., & Clench, M. (2014). . In BMSS Annual Meeting 2014, Alderley Park Conference Centre, Macclesfield, Cheshire, 1 April 2014 - 2 April 2014.
Books
Thickett-Cole, L., & Clench, M. (Eds.). (2023). . New York: Humana Press.
Thickett-Cole, L. (Ed.). (2018). . Springer.
Theses / Dissertations
Millar, J. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Cole, L.
Guarnerio, S. (2023). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Peake, N., Le Maitre, C., & Cole, L.
Little, L.D. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Haywood-Small, S., Carolan, V., Allen, L., & Cole, L.
Heaton, C.E.G. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Francese, S., Cole, L., & McColm, R.
Flint, L.E. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Clench, M., Cross, N., Cole, L., & Smith, D.
Posters
Wright, C., Reed, H., Partridge, R., Cole, L., Selvan, A., & Clench, M. (2014). . Presented at: BCISMRM, Edinburgh, 2014
Postgraduate supervision
Multimodal mass spectrometry imaging: MALDI-MSI, DESI-MSI, LA-ICP-MSI