Photo: Jenna Lihavainen
The Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC) at Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) recently hosted a workshop for young scientists eager to delve into the world of metabolomics. Organised in collaboration with the Metabolomics Unit at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), the University of Helsinki and the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine in Sweden (MIMS), the workshop focused on the rapidly evolving role of data analysis in interpreting complex datasets, which are crucial for advancing metabolomics research. Metabolomics, the study of small molecules known as metabolites, plays a crucial role in understanding biological systems.
By analysing the metabolome, researchers can gain insights into molecular mechanisms, such as how organisms respond to drugs or identify new disease markers. This makes metabolomics an essential tool in fields like molecular medicine, where it can help unravel complex biological processes.
The workshop kicked off with a public symposium on “Metabolomics in Molecular Medicine,” featuring keynote talks from invited experts in the field:
· Thomas Moritz (Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen)
· Michael Zimmermann (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg)
· Anni Nieminen (Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki)
· Ujjwal Neogi (Karolinska Institute)
Close to a hundred participants in the audience learned about the latest advancements and applications of metabolomics, including microbiome-host interactions and the use of fluxomics in understanding molecular phenotypes. Elin Larsson, staff scientist at Umeå University who participated in the workshop, said that “the symposium gave a good overview of the variety of things metabolomics can be used for. The talks also showed the complexity behind it all – it was really inspiring!”.
Over the following two days, 14 elected young researchers engaged in hands-on training that encompassed the key steps in metabolomics workflow. They learned about metabolite extraction, theory behind mass spectrometry, and, most importantly, the intricacies of data analysis and interpretation.
Photos: Jenna Lihavainen and Cecilia Pettersson
“Getting the hands-on practice, especially in data analysis, was perfect for me since I am just about to take the next steps and expand my research using mass spectroscopy. Getting to meet the other participants was extremely useful for sharing ideas and experiences, and I appreciated the insights from the experts”, said Elin Larsson.
This workshop highlighted the synergies between the Swedish SMC and MIMS, alongside the Finnish FIMM/HiLIFE, which can serve as a stepping stone for future collaborations within metabolomics and molecular medicine.
Annika Johansson, Head of the Swedish Metabolomics Centre, concluded that “The collaboration with FIMM has been incredibly inspiring, and invaluable for exchanging ideas and advancing the metabolomics research here in Umeå. We are eager to strengthen our partnership further and are already discussing new ways to keep this collaboration going."
Text by Rebecca Forsberg