The metabolomics community gathers in the north
On 30-31 January 2024, Umeå University hosted the conference “Metabolomics in Life Science” at the P5 conference centre. As remarked by Professor Henrik Antti during the opening, this conference underlined the long history of metabolomics research in Umeå. The conference was a joint effort between two SciLifeLab units located in Umeå, the Swedish NMR Centre (SNC) and the Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC). Also participating in the organization was the Computational Analytics Support Platform (CASP), based at Umeå University.
The conference highlighted the latest advancements, breakthroughs, and applications in the field of NMR- and MS-based metabolomics research in Sweden, the Nordics, and beyond. This meeting brought together over 120 researchers from around the world and served as a platform for participants to share their knowledge, present research findings, and engage in insightful discussions in the metabolomics area.
Attendees enjoyed presentations covering many aspects of metabolomics, ranging from precision medicine and plant metabolomics to the use of advanced computational/AI strategies within the field. A panel of six distinguished keynote speakers were present:
- Associate Professor Daniel Globisch (Uppsala University)
- Associate Professor Guro Giskeødegård (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)
- Associate Professor Young Hae Choi (Leiden University, Netherlands)
- Professor Timothy Ebbels (Imperial College London, UK)
- Associate Professor Marine Letertre (University of Nantes, France)
- Associate Professor Helen Lindqvist (University of Gothenburg)
Participants also had the opportunity to present their research through engaging poster sessions. The conference provided ample networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with fellow researchers, industry professionals, and potential collaborators. These interactions facilitated the exchange of ideas and the establishment of valuable partnerships.
In addition to the scientific program, the conference featured six industry exhibitions, where leading companies presented state-of-the-art technologies, products, and services related to metabolomics research.
The conference was well received:
“I thought it was a great meeting – well organized and a good mix of networking and science. Very happy to have been part of it“
“I really enjoyed it. Very interesting topics, great speakers, and well organized“
“Fantastic Metabolomics conference“
Reflecting on the success of the conference, the organizing committee expressed gratitude to the members of the scientific committee, all participants, and sponsors for their contributions in making the event a resounding success. Metabolomics in Life Science was sponsored by Umeå University, Department of Chemistry, SwedNMR, SciLifeLab, and six industrial sponsors (Bruker, Leco, Lifespin, ThermoFisher Scientific, Waters, and Agilent).