Analytical and Clinical Toxicology
As a research focus since the lab started in 2012, Analytical and Clinical Toxicology is an essential component of the Gerona Lab. Initially set-up as collaborative work with Poison Centers, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor drugs of abuse and new psychoactive substances (NPS), this research focus has expanded to overseas collaboration with Dr. Samuel Banister, a prolific medicinal chemist who specializes in the synthesis and pharmacological profiling of prophetic synthetic cannabinoids. Our laboratory has one of the most comprehensive methods on drug analysis covering more than 1,100 NPS, traditional drugs of abuse, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements active ingredients. We also perform suspect screening and non-targeted analysis using the Agilent 6550 iFunnel QTOF/MS.
Toxicology testing of biological samples of overdose patients resulting from the ingestion of new psychoactive substances
Psychoactive Substance Surveillance Corsortium and Analysis Network [PSCAN]
Synthesis and pharmcological profiling of prophetic synthetic cannabinoids
Establishment of the University of the Philippines Drugs of Abuse Research Laboratory
Environmental Chemical Biomonitoring
The lab first developed a direct method for quantifying Bisphenol-A (BPA) in 2011 on an AB Sciex 5500 Triple Quad. The novel method utilized new chemical reference standards to directly monitor BPA and its metabolites to improve on the traditional indirect method that uses enzymatic deconjugation to measure BPA metabolites. Biomonitoring efforts for surveillance of other endocrine disrupting chemicals began soon after which now comprise nine distinct panel. Our laboratory prides itself in pioneering the suspect screening and non-targeted analysis of endocrine disrupting chemicals in a biological matrix.
Suspect screening of environmental chemicals in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Analysis of urine phthalate metabolites and environmental phenols in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization
Biomonitoring glyphosate across America
MDR-TB Drug Hair Analysis
In 2015, we were approached by Dr. Monica Gandhi to assist in developing methods for antiretroviral drugs in hair to support her projects at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General. Our focus has shifted since then to anti-TB drugs. With our current collaboration with Drs. John Metcalfe and Monica Gandhi, we have developed five different panels on anti-TB drugs using hair as matrix. These panels are being used to monitor multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients in South Africa as well as other TB patients in India, Peru, and other parts of the world. Our MDR-TB drug panel won the prestigious AIDS 2016 IAS TB/HIV Research Prize besting hundreds of other abstracts submitted to the conference from across the world.
Development of hair analysis methods for monitoring multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment in the setting of HIV infection
Small Molecule Analysis
As a service laboratory we continuously seek out researchers at UCSF whom we can assist in developing LC-MS methods relevant to their research. In our most recent collaboration, we use both targeted and non-targeted approach to monitor the metabolism of anti-cancer drugs using Agilent 6550 iFunnel QTOF/MS. Our laboratory is always open to collaboration where small molecule analysis through LC-MS may be useful.
Monitoring the metabolism of 5-Fluorouracil in assesing microbiome-drug interaction
Selected Completed Projects
Analysis of bisphenol A in matched maternal-fetal samples during the second trimester of pregnancy
Monitoring pesticides in an organic dietary intervention study
Establishment of the Philippine biomonitoring program