Users are involved in understanding and developing diagnostic tools for childhood brain tumours and cancers of the colon, lung, head and neck, as well as inflammation, pain and metabolic disorders.
Metabolomics refers to the study of the dynamic concentrations of small biological molecules produced by living cells. It is used in pharmacology and toxicology research.
Metabolic tracing involves tracing the fate of specifically labelled metabolites in order to model biochemical pathways within the cell.
Local developments include:
- New, free and open source NMR data processing software, MetaboLabPy, developed and actively supported by Christian Ludwig, the standard NMR processing software chosen by the Phenome Centre Birmingham.
- New methodology from Christian Ludwig for integration of NMR and MS data for metabolite tracing (CANMS) using a single sample.
- Christian Ludwig and colleagues have developed techniques for the rapid collection of NMR data, in a quantitative manner, suitable for tracer-based metabolism studies (HS-TrAM).
- The Phenome Centre Birmingham was established by Mark Viant and colleagues to offer comprehensive collaborative services (including NMR and MS data analysis) for clinical and biological projects.
- Users led by Mark Viant established the Metabolomics Initiative on campus, which encompasses eight labs which share NMR methods and software for metabolomics analysis.
- Andrew Peet integrates NMR and magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging of clinical samples and tissues in partnership with the Birmingham University Imaging Centre.
- Mark Viant and colleagues have jointly developed protocols for the preparation and extraction of cancer cell lines, plasma samples and tissues.