Diana E. Bedolla

Divisions

Advanced Light Source

Secondary Affiliation:

Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging

• Cellular and Tissue Imaging

Biography

Diana Bedolla is an expert in biospectroscopy and synchrotron science, currently serving as an infrared beamline scientist at the Advanced Light Source (ALS). With a PhD in neuroscience from SISSA (Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) and a background in physics, her career is defined by a deep interdisciplinary approach that bridges the physical sciences and clinical diagnostics.

A former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow, Bedolla has published over 50 scientific articles across fields ranging from biomedicine and analytical chemistry to plant science and polymers. Her work focuses on translating spectroscopic techniques into practical tools, including the development of point-of-care diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases and infectious conditions like COVID-19. Combining extensive experience at international synchrotron facilities in particular using vibrational spectroscopy to solve complex biological and non-biological challenges.

Research Interests

Bedolla’s research is driven by the application of advanced biospectroscopy to solve critical challenges in human health and material science. Having transitioned from a multi-year focus on clinical biomarkers to her current role at the Advanced Light Source (ALS), her primary interests include:

• Clinical Diagnostics & Biomarkers: Leveraging FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to identify spectral signatures for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but also other diseases that can be diagnosed on biofluids.

• Synchrotron Infrared Nanospectroscopy (SINS): Utilizing the high-brightness infrared light at the ALS to perform chemical imaging at the sub-diffraction limit, enabling the study of biological samples at the nanoscale.

• Optical Photothermal Spectroscopy (O-PTIR): Chemical images at submicron resolution has opened up new possibilities with the study of materials that previously were not possible to investigate because of sample preparation or substrate choice.

• Translational Point-of-Care Technology: Bridging the gap between laboratory research and bedside application through the development of portable diagnostic devices for diseases.

• Interdisciplinary Synchrotron Applications: Investigating complex chemical and morphological changes across diverse systems.

• Chemometrics & Machine Learning: Implementing advanced data analysis to extract meaningful biological information from high-dimensional spectroscopic datasets.

Bedolla is open to new collaborations in general, but particularly interested in clinical applications.