Dr. Leena Patil
Senior Scientist
Dr. Leena Patil is an interdisciplinary chemist with a robust background in organic, analytical, and bioanalytical chemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Nucleoside Chemistry, focusing on the multistep synthesis of a novel thio-analogue of Fialuridine to reduce toxicity and improve patient outcomes. As a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Milton Lee Lab at BYU, she designed capillary columns for RPLC, developed analytical methods for small and large molecules, fabricated capillary GPC columns, and innovated frit fabrication techniques using polymerization and laser technology. She also managed collaborations for lab solutions and product development.
As a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brigham Young University in the John C. Price Lab, Dr. Patil led a team of undergraduates and advanced proteomics by pushing the boundaries of protein identification using HPLC, high-throughput multiplexing, and mass spectrometry. Her research focused on understanding protein kinetics and folding stability in the context of aging and disease. She developed HPLC protocols for proteome separation applied to various tissues, including liver, serum, brain, muscle, and saliva, significantly improving proteome coverage. Additionally, she pioneered novel serum depletion methods for complex folding assays and contributed to Alzheimer’s research through DESI-Lipidomics and targeted brain region analysis.
Currently, as a Senior Scientist at the RASR Laboratory, Dr. Patil brings extensive expertise in analytical, bioanalytical chemistry and proteomics research to collaborative projects. Her work focuses on advancing plasma proteomics by enhancing sample preparation processes and refining liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses of clinical samples. Dr. Patil’s research aims to deepen our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the context of health disparities, brain imaging, and genetics. She is instrumental in developing mass spectrometry assays for analyzing various tissue samples, including plasma and brain, and applying both existing and novel protocols to these areas.