Aleyna Lumsden

Thesis Title: Using advanced informatics strategies to identify key disease associated metabolites and provide evidence of infection in ME/CFS patients

Franklin Supervisors: Dr Bela Paizs, Dr Marcus Gallagher-Jones

University: University of Oxford

University Supervisors: Professor Karl Morten

External Collaborators: Imperial College London

Aleyna’s research focuses on developing advanced analytical workflows to identify reliable biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a complex and poorly understood disease. By integrating LC-IMS-MS² with predictive fragmentation modelling, experimental validation, and pathway mapping, her work enables confident identification of unknown metabolites in complex, low-abundance samples. This innovative approach aims to transform ME/CFS diagnosis and set new standards for biomarker discovery across human disease.

Aleyna recently completed an MBio (Integrated Master’s) degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Warwick. Her Master’s research investigated the genetic regulatory pathways underlying early heart development, with implications for understanding congenital heart defects and other inherited cardiac disorders. She has also explored the role of eukaryotic transposons and their potential links to disease, alongside a broad engagement with molecular, genetic, and clinical modules throughout her degree. Aleyna is driven by a strong commitment to translational research – bridging fundamental biology with clinical impact to improve healthcare outcomes for those most in need.