Federico Marini è lieto di invitarvi al seminario:
WHERE SCENT MEETS DIAGNOSIS
di Agnieszka Blanchet-Smolinska, Maastricht University, Netherlands
Il seminario si terrà venerdì 19 dicembre p.v. alle ore 12.00 in aula Parravano, edificio Cannizzaro (CU014).
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), detectable in exhaled breath, urine, and feces, offer a compelling route to non-invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring. As reflections of underlying metabolic activity, VOCs can reveal condition-specific biochemical changes, making them valuable biomarkers across a range of diseases. To harness their diagnostic potential, a comprehensive analytical strategy is required—one that spans thoughtful experimental design, precise analytical workflows, and robust data interpretation.
This presentation introduces a chemometrics-driven volatolomics framework, built on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and applied across diverse biomedical studies. Case studies in asthma, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) illustrate how VOC profiles can support differential diagnosis, patient stratification, and therapy monitoring in both clinical and pre-clinical settings.
By combining analytical rigor with biological insight, volatolomics supported by chemometric analysis provides a pathway toward robust, reproducible, and clinically relevant diagnostics potential.
Short Bio
Dr. Agnieszka (Agi) Blanchet-Smolinska is an Associate Professor at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, specializing in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemometrics, and machine learning for biomedical applications. 
With over 16 years of experience, she applies advanced chemometrics to metabolomics, non-invasive diagnostics, and multi-omics research. Her interdisciplinary projects span clinical, analytical, and computational sciences, addressing challenges in respiratory, gastrointestinal, and liver diseases. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, received multiple grants and awards, and has actively contributed to scientific education, mentoring, conference, advancing biomarker discovery and precision medicine in academic and industrial settings.