Abstract biomolecular pattern

This is an exciting time for metabolomics and lipidomics as we move approaches out of the lab into the clinic to better define patient groups, understand disease at the population level and even begin to understand how diseases arise at the single-cell level."

Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas

Head of Section

Biomolecular Medicine combines world-class expertise and resources in metabolomics, pharmacology, crystallization science and computational systems medicine approaches to understand how metabolic perturbations influence disease. The metabolome, the entire complement of metabolites in a biofluid, cell or tissue, is particularly sensitive to disease processes, as well as interactions with diet, host-microbiome, pharmacological intervention and the environment (also termed the exposome). We have developed and applied a wide range of analytical tools for profiling metabolites, lipids and peptides in biofluids and tissues both in healthy individuals and in patient populations, particularly using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These metabolic profiles have been associated with various human diseases, and we have modelled these changes in animal and cell systems to better define the mechanisms responsible for pathology, as well as using these approaches for precision medicine to target the right patient groups for treatment.

The section has particular interests in the use of metabolic profiling and systems medicine to understand the metabolic diseases, drug toxicity and various cancers, and has been instrumental in defining how diet and the gut microbiome interacts with many of these disease processes.

The Section is exceptionally well equipped for metabolomic research with state-of-the-art 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, tissue culture and crystallization labs.

Biomolecular Medicine

Key studies and research groups

Key studies and research groups

Degree Programmes

Short Courses

Section leadership

Head of Biomolecular Medicine - Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas

Prof Dumas’ research focusses on metabolomics using primarily 1H NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry to study metabolite and lipid networks in metabolic and cardiorespiratory diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity or ischemic heart disease. He uses a systems medicine framework combining statistical and experimental causality, as well as pharmacological screens to unravel the underpinning biological mechanisms of metabolic diseases.

Research group leads