Dr Rebecca Cordell

I am a senior research scientist in analytical science based at the new Space Park Leicester campus. My research expertise lies in the measurement small molecular weight compounds from both the environment and biological systems, using techniques such as two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GCxGC-MS) and proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS).

I also have extensive experience in air quality monitoring and run the University of Leicester equipment at the DEFRA air quality station based at main campus where, alongside the legislated pollutants, we measure the levels of the especially health relevant ultra-fine particles and black carbon. I have a particular interest in the impact of exposure to poor air quality on health with a particular focus on volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure, and the potential use of VOCs as novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and stratification.

My current areas of research include:

• Examining the volatile organic compound (VOC) composition of indoor air and its potential impact on health through the Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health based at Leicester.
• Monitoring contamination of equipment designed for the storage, handling and analysis of samples returned from Mars.
• Investigating the changes in atmosphere composition induced by COVID lockdowns with particular focus on particle size composition in association with the University of Brighton.
• Looking at the contribution of wood burning to particulate pollution in Leicester as part of a Leicester City Council DEFRA funded collaboration examining the role of behavioural change on air pollution.
• Assessing the feasibility of exhaled breath as a diagnostic tool for respiratory disease.

T.P. Riveron, R. L. Cordell, A. L. Hansell (2025) "INdoor Home Air Level Exploration (INHALE) Study: Protocol to monitor indoor pollution in British Dwelling" IJERPH 22(11): 1635

T.P. Riveron, A. L. Hansell, R. L. Cordell (2025) "Evolution of volatile organic compounds and their health risks following the opening of a newly built office building" (2025) Building and Environment 280(22): 113121

R. Peltrini, R.L. Cordell, M.J. Wilde, S. Abuhelal, E. Quek, N. Zounemat-Kermani, W. Ibrahim, M. Richardson, P. Brinkman, F. Schleich, P. Stefanuto, H. Aung, N. Greening, S.E. Dahlen, R. Djukanovic, I.M. Adcock, C.E. Brightling, P.S. Monks, and S. Siddiqui (2024) "Discovery and Validation of a Volatile Signature of Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in Asthma" AJRCCM 210(9)

T.P. Riveron, M. J. Wilde, W. Ibrahim, L. Carr, P. S. Monks, N. J. Greening, E. A. Gaillard, C. E. Brightling, S. Siddiqui, A. L. Hansell and R. L. Cordell (2023). "Characterisation of volatile organic compounds in hospital indoor air and exposure health risk determination." Building and Environment 242(5): 110513.

W. Ibrahim, M. J. Wilde, R. L. Cordell, M. Richardson, D. Salman, R. C. Free, B. Zhao, A. Singapuri, B. Hargadon, E. A. Gaillard, T. Suzuki, L. L. Ng, T. Coats, P. Thomas, P. S. Monks, C. E. Brightling, N. J. Greening, S. Siddiqui (2022). "Visualization of exhaled breath metabolites reveals distinct diagnostic signatures for acute cardiorespiratory breathlessness." Sci Transl Med 14(671): 5849.

W. Ibrahim, R. L. Cordell, M. J. Wilde, M. Richardson, L. Carr, A. Sundari Devi Dasi, B. Hargadon, R. C. Free, P. S. Monks, C. E. Brightling, N. J. Greening and S. Siddiqui (2021). "Diagnosis of COVID-19 by exhaled breath analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry." ERJ Open Res 7(3).

R. L. Cordell, R. Panchal, E. Bernard, M. Gatari, E. Waiguru, M. Ng’ang’a, J. Nyang’aya, M. Ogot, M. J. Wilde, K. P. Wyche, A. A. Abayomi, R. Alani, P. S. Monks and J. D. Vande Hey (2021). "Volatile Organic Compound Composition of Urban Air in Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria." Atmosphere 12(10): 1329.

G. Burgos-Barragan, N. Wit, J. Meiser, F. A. Dingler, M. Pietzke, L. Mulderrig, L. B. Pontel, I. V. Rosado, T. F. Brewer, R. L. Cordell, P. S. Monks, C. J. Chang, A. Vazquez and K. J. Patel (2017). "Mammals divert endogenous genotoxic formaldehyde into one-carbon metabolism." Nature 548(7669): 612.

I currently supervise PhD Studentships in the following areas:

• Volatile organic compound emissions from desktop 3D printers and indoor air quality

• Indoor air exposures to VOCs and mould and relationship with severe asthma 

• The development and validation of a panel of volatile biomarkers of airway eosinophilia in severe asthma

• BSc Molecular Cell Biology (Nottingham)
• PhD "A Novel Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for Nucleotide Analysis in Biological Matrices" (Nottingham)