Jennifer L. Powers, PhD

Washington University in St. Louis (WU)

My clinical laboratory research interests lie in two broad areas: quantitative methods for low abundance molecules and approaches to precision medicine. As a biochemist turned clinical chemist, I am very interested in developing new assays for proteins and peptides: this includes immunoassay approaches as well as liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS/MS). As part of the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, I am also carrying out projects in diabetes research. We have added glycated albumin as CLIA-approved analyte to our testing menu and are seeking to fully understand its clinical utility. Additionally, we are currently enrolling women with diabetes during pregnancy to examine alternate biomarkers for predicting adverse neonatal events. These markers include glycated albumin and beta-hydroxybutyrate. As Director of the Core Laboratory for Clinical Studies, I would be happy to work with faculty who need particular assays developed for quantitation of analytes in blood or urine specimens.