About us

Silvia Balbo, Ph.D. 

Principal Investigator

I got my MS and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, at the University of Torino, in Torino, Italy after conducting part of my doctoral work at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in Belgium. Immediately after defending my thesis, I joined as a Post-doctoral fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France. I then moved to work at the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota where in 2014  I joined the faculty of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health. 

I have a passion for understanding how chemicals impact our health through their reactions to cellular targets. I am convinced that the more we learn about how these interactions happen, the more we can harness them when they result in beneficial effects or interfere with them before they exert detrimental effects. 

Peter W. Villalta, Ph.D. 

Collaborator

I received my Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota and have worked in the Masonic Cancer Center since 1999.  I am currently the Director of the Analytical Biochemistry Shared Resource and serve as an NCI Research Specialist in support of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program of the Masonic Cancer Center. I collaborate extensively with Silvia and her research group.  My major research interest is in the development of methodologies for screening and characterizing the DNA modifications that result from exposures to xenobiotics and endogenous processes. 

Masonic Cancer Center Mass Spectrometry Laboratory Website 

Balbo Lab Members

Laura Maertens

Research Associate, Ph.D.

I received my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Minnesota with Dr. Cheryl Zimmerman. My thesis work involved the use of the isolated perfused rat lung model to investigate the pulmonary metabolism of tobacco carcinogens. Then I took a post-doc with Dr. Ron Sawchuk investigating the delivery of antibiotics through the tympanic membrane as an alternative to systemic treatment for ear infections. After staying home with my son for a year, I joined the Balbo lab in 2016 and started coordinating human studies. Feel free to ask me about ongoing human studies. 



Contact: maert006@umn.edu

Matthew Luedtke

Research Associate, Ph.D.

I received my Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Vermont with Dr. José Madalengoitia.  My thesis work involved preparation of highly-substituted cyclic guanidines from a zwitterionic-1,3-diaza-Claisen rearrangement. My post-doctoral work was with Dr. Stephen Hecht investigating tobacco specific nitrosamine urinary metabolites as potential biomarkers for cancer prevention. My current research projects involve DNA adductomics, and chemical synthesis of various DNA adducts as LC-MS internal standards.  When I’m not on campus, I enjoy going to the gym, studying chemistry, practicing guitar, darts, bowling, or learning other languages.  Feel free to ask me anything about organic chemistry.

Contact: lued0053@d.umn.edu

Kevin Murray

Ph.D. Candidate, M.S.

I received my MS in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the UMN in 2019. My research focuses on developing software solutions for the detection and characterization of DNA adducts. I am also a Research Scientist at the Center for Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics (CMSP), specializing in small molecule studies and bioinformatics analyses. When I'm not on campus, you will find me exploring the Twin Cities, playing volleyball, or curled up with a blanket, slaying orcs. Feel free to ask me about QA\QC procedures in MS-based research. 

Contact: murra668@umn.edu

Andrew Floeder

Ph.D. Student, B.S.

Hi! I received a B.S. in Microbiology from the U of M in 2019. Currently, I'm studying at the UMN School of Public Health in the division of Environmental Health Sciences, program of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology. I am interested in environmental exposures and their potential biomarkers or a tool to monitor occupational safety. When I'm out of lab, I enjoy bottomless chips at Jefe happy hour, only wearing white shoes, and reading. Feel free to ask me about Norwegian atlantic cod! 

Contact: floed013@umn.edu


Foster Jacobs

Ph.D. Student, B.S.

I received a B.S. in Biochemistry from the U of M in 2019. Since then I have been working as a research assistant in the lab, and currently, I am third-year student in the UMN School of Public Health's Division of Environmental Health Sciences, program of Environmental Toxicology. I am interested in studying biomarkers of environmental pollutants and developing methods to better assess their human health risk. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy biking, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Feel free to ask me about my favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities!

Contact: jaco1924@umn.edu

Michael Sausen

Ph.D. Student, B.S.

Hi! I received a B.S. in Chemistry from the U of M in 2021. Currently, I am studying Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics through the UMN Medical School. I am interested in studying biomarkers and understanding the variance seen between patients that receive the same therapy. When I am not in lab, I enjoy watching sports, hanging out with friends, staying active, and spending time outdoors. Feel free to ask me about anything soccer!

Contact: sause023@umn.edu 

Dylan Mckeon

Master's Student, B.S.

Hi! I received my B.S. in Chemistry and Biomolecular Science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. I am currently an MS student studying Pharmacology through the UMN Medical School. In the Balbo lab, I am working on a project to detect mercapturic acids, as possible biomarkers for carcinogens, in human biofluid samples. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy cycling, longboarding, camping, and staying in to watch movies. Feel free to ask me about cool places to go camping in Wisconsin!

Contact: mckeo093@umn.edu

Former Balbo Research Group Members: