Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory – UCLA

Professor Whitelegge’s research and teaching are focused on the application of biological mass spectrometry to the study of structure/function relationships of integral membrane proteins, understanding protein misfolding and the relationship to neurodegenerative disease, elucidating radiation insult and mitigation biomarkers, exploring inter-relationships of metabolism and molecular mechanisms of diabetes, as well as other systems biology projects in peptidomics, lipidomics, and proteomics.

Dr. Elezi’s research integrates biomedical, environmental, and archaeological mass spectrometry to characterize and quantify small organic molecules using LC–MS and GC–MS techniques. His work spans diverse applications—from studying metabolic pathways and bioactive compounds in biological systems to detecting pollutants and biomarkers in environmental samples, and identifying ancient biomolecules preserved in archaeological materials. By bridging analytical chemistry with questions of human health, environment, and cultural heritage, his research advances both scientific understanding and interdisciplinary collaboration across modern and ancient contexts.