Metabolon – Mapping metabolites to their key biochemical pathways
Study code
NBR03
Lead researcher
Prof. John Bradley
Study type
Samples and data
Institution or company
University of Cambridge
Researcher type
Non-commercial
Speciality area
Genomics and Rare Diseases
Summary
Metabolomics is the study of small molecules and an integral technology for understanding the function of biological systems. It is the systematic measurement and biological interpretation of the low molecular weight (~50-1,500 Da) biochemicals or “metabolites” within a biological sample. Surveying these small molecules allows for better understanding of biological mechanisms, thereby creating a more complete picture of the phenotype (the observable characteristics of a living system).
This first-line phenotyping tool tracks alterations in metabolite levels and maps them to the appropriate biochemical pathways, improving our understanding of health and the influences of genes, microbiome, diet, lifestyle and drug treatment.
By providing a comprehensive picture of the biochemistry of a system, metabolomics helps answer many clinical and research questions and advance programs in translational science, biomarker identification and the study of disease and treatment mechanisms. This makes metabolomics a key technology for precision medicine, as well as for the NIHR BioResource, across multiple application areas.