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Metabolomics platform gathered in Umeå for annual retreat

Every year, the Metabolomics platform at SciLifeLab meets to share last year’s success, gain a clear view of the platform’s scientific standing and brainstorm ideas for the future. This year, the platform gathered for a lunch-to-lunch retreat in Umeå.

On 28-29 of January, over 30 researchers from the Metabolomics Platform and Swedish NMR center met in Umeå to discuss the steps ahead for metabolomics. Metabolomics is the study of metabolites – or small molecules found in all living things. Metabolites can tell us what is going on inside us and studying them is essential for understanding a variety of biological processes, from plants defense systems to human health. 

The Metabolomics Platform consists of three units situated in Umeå, Gothenburg and Stockholm, each with their unique set of expertise and strengths.  

“We want to find new ways in which we can exchange our knowledge and skills, for instance, by enabling staff scientists to spend more time at the other units,” says Annika Johansson, Coordination Officer of the platform and Head of Unit of the Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC), hosting the retreat. 

This year the Swedish NMR Centre, which also offers metabolomics services, was also invited to participate in the retreat. “By learning more about our respective techniques, discussing future technology development and how to overcome common obstacles, we hope to offer better services for the Swedish research community,” says Annika Johansson. 

“With computational support, we hope to help users sift through the data”

At the retreat, the platform also talked about new ways to give users support in handling and analyzing the data. “When studying metabolites together, data quickly piles up, presenting quite a bit of a challenge. Finding the right information can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With computational support, we hope to help users sift through the data,” says Katie Bennett, research coordinator at the Computational Analytics Support Platform (CASP).  

The Metabolomics Platform consists of three units

> Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC) at Umeå University and SLU 
> Chalmers Mass Spectrometry Infrastructure (CMSI) at Chalmers University of Technology. 
> National Facility for Exposomics at Stockholm University.  
 
Invited to the retreat was also 
Swedish NMR Centre, situated at Umeå University and University of Gothenburg, and members from the National Bioinformatics Infrastructure (NBIS) involved in the Metabolomics platform.  


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Last updated: 2025-01-31

Content Responsible: Rebecca Forsberg(rebecca.forsberg@scilifelab.se)