Biography

My group is developing and applying analytical techniques to achieve a better understanding of biomedical problems.

The overall goal of our research is to develop techniques for improved analysis of the biomolecule-surface interfaces and multimodal imaging of biologically relevant samples. The ability to get sub-cellular images of cell and tissues with chemical and molecular specificity opens up a range of possibilities for better understanding and diagnosing biological processes such as tumor microenvironments, lipid metabolomics relationship to cancer, tissue repair, and chemical analysis of tissue and/or cells on a cellular and sub-cellular level. One technique capable of acquiring this information is secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). We have developed many new tools and capabilities to improve sub-cellular resolution ToF-SIMS analysis of cells and tissues. Our research involves development of the sample preparation, technique development, data processing, and data analysis which is critical to make this technology more applicable to the biological/medical community.

Our work and advances in ToF-SIMS imaging and data processing has prompted significant interest among biomedical academic as well as the clinical research community. Utilizing the newer cluster ion sources allows us to get 3-D images of cells and tissues as well. We continue to further advancement in this area with the addition of new instrumentation as well as improved data processing. Newer advancements have involved image registration to correlate image data acquired on different techniques and statistical analysis of multiple data.

Education

• PhD, Physical Chemistry, University of Washington
• BA, University of California, Santa Cruz

Previous appointments

• Research Scientist, Zyomyx, Inc.
• Senior Scientist, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Select publications

1. Christopher R. Anderton and Lara J. Gamble*, “Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Tissues, Cells, and Microbial Systems”, Microscopy-Today, 2016, 24 (2): 24-30.
2. B. Bluestein, D. J. Graham, F. Morrish, J. Guenthoer, D. Hockenbery, and P. Porter, L. J. Gamble*, “An Unsupervised MVA Method to Compare Specific Regions in Human Breast Tumor Tissue Samples Using ToF-SIMS”. Analyst. 2016 Mar 7;141(6):1947-57. doi: 10.1039/c5an02406d. PubMed PMID: 26878076; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4783233.
3. M. A. Robinson, D. J. Graham, F. Morrish, D. Hockenbery and L. J. Gamble*, “Lipid analysis of eight human breast cancer cell lines with TOF-SIMS”. Biointerphases 2016, 11, 02A303: http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4929633: PMCID: PMC4552699
4. L. J. Gamble*, D. J. Graham, B. Bluestein, N. P. Whitehead, D. Hockenbery, F. Morrish and P. Porter “ToF-SIMS of tissues: “Lessons learned” from mice and women”. Biointerphases 2015, 10, 019008: http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4907860: PMCID: PMC4327923
5. A. Harrison, H. Binder, A. Buhot, C. J. Burden, E. Carlon, C. Gibas, L. J. Gamble, A. Halperin, J. Hooyberhs, D. P. Kreil, R. Levicky, P. A. Novel, A. Ott, B. M. Pettitt, D. Tautz, A. E. Pozhitkov, “Physico-chemical Foundations underpinning microarray and next-generation sequencing experiments”, Nucleic Acids Research, 2013, 1-18. DOI:10.1093/nar/gks1358
6. Archana N. Rao, Nicolas Vandencasteele, Lara J. Gamble, and David W. Grainger, “High-Resolution Epifluorescence and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Chemical Imaging Comparisons of Single DNA Microarray Spots”, Analytical Chemistry 2012 84 (24), 10628-10636. DOI: 10.1021/ac3019334
7. Characterization by XPS, NEXAFS, and Fluorescence Intensity Measurements”, Anal. Chem., 78, p3316-3325, 2006.
8. P. Gong, C.-Y. Lee, L.J. Gamble, D.G. Castner, and D.W. Grainger, “Hybridization Behavior of Mixed DNA/Alkylthiol Monolayers on Gold: Characterization by Surface Plasmon Resonance and 32P Radiometric Assay”, Anal. Chem., 78, p3326-3334, 2006

Honors & awards

• 2014 Peter M.A. Sherwood Mid Career Award (AVS-Applied Surface Science Division)
• 2013-2015 USA Representative, IUVSTA Biointerfaces Division
• 2014 Peter M.A. Sherwood Mid Career Award (AVS)
• 2011-2012 Chair, Biomaterials Interfaces Division, AVS
• 2010-2011 Program Chair, Biomaterials Interfaces Division, AVS
• 1993 UW Department of Chemistry David M. Ritter Graduate Student Award
• 2015 Fellow, American Vacuum Society