Joe Eckenrode on mass spectrometry for measuring receptor occupancy

Interviews MS (LC–MS/MS, HRMS, IMS)

During the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) PharmSci 360 2025 conference, Bioanalysis Zone caught up with industry experts across numerous disciplines to discuss their involvement with AAPS and their research. In this interview, we spoke to Joe Eckenrode about the development of a mass spectrometry assay for measuring receptor occupancy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this interview are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bioanalysis Zone or Taylor & Francis Group.

Interview questions:

  1. Your talk at PharmSci 360 2025 covered the development of a mass spectrometry assay for the measurement of free target membrane receptors on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Can you explain why a mass spectrometry approach was needed as an alternative to the traditional flow cytometry assays used?
  2. What were the key challenges in developing a mass spectrometry-based receptor occupancy assay?
  3. How does the turnaround time and sample stability requirements of this mass spectrometry approach compare to flow cytometry methods in the context of multi-site clinical trials?
  4. Could this methodology be adapted for measuring receptor occupancy in tissue biopsies rather than just circulating blood cells? What modifications would be necessary to achieve this?
  5. As mass spectrometry technology continues to evolve, what improvements do you anticipate that could further enhance the sensitivity or throughput of receptor occupancy assays in the next 3–5 years?

 

Meet the speaker

Joseph Eckenrode
Associate Principal Scientist
Merck & Co. (NJ, USA)

Joseph is an Associate Principal Scientist at Merck Inc. & Co. in the department of Translational Biomarkers and Mass Spectrometry. Joseph has been with Merck for 6 years, where he started as a Post Doctoral Scientist. He is responsible for developing and validating novel biomarker assays, pursuing cutting-edge methodologies, executing clinical sample analysis, overseeing outsourced analysis, and advising on clinical biomarker sub-teams. Prior to joining Merck, he completed a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Kentucky (KY, USA), focusing on preclinical in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD research. Joseph earned a B.S. in Biochemistry at Ohio University (OH, USA). He and his wife are parents to 5 amazing children ranging in age from 3 to 10 years old. Outside of work, Joseph enjoys time together with the family, church fellowship, coaching, playing sports and home cooking.

About AAPS

American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) is a non-profit association of more than 7000 scientists and professionals employed in academia, industry, regulatory and other research related to the pharmaceutical sciences worldwide. Its mission is to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health, which members pursue through four peer-reviewed journals and a variety of events in person and online.

AAPS PharmSci 360 delivers research from across the pharmaceutical continuum, from discovery to delivery, and all stages in between. Thousands of scientists from across the globe converge to discuss cutting-edge breakthroughs, technologies, and techniques in symposia and poster presentations at this science-first event. https://www.aaps.org/pharmsci360.