The NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core, located at the Chapel Hill and the Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) campuses, encourages collaborations that promote the use of untargeted and broad spectrum metabolomics in basic, clinical, and translational research focused on environmental health and precision nutrition. The measurement of perturbations in metabolism that arise from disease, dysfunction, or exposure (e.g., chemicals, drugs, nutrients, foods, stress) is referred to as metabolomics. The measurement of all exposures and the impact on endogenous metabolism is referred to as the exposome.
Metabolomics involves the analysis of the low molecular weight complement of cells, tissues, or biological fluids, and makes it feasible to profile (metabotyping) the biochemistry of an individual or system. The untargeted metabolomics profile includes signals for endogenous compounds (that map to biochemical pathways), as well as signals of exogenously derived components (e.g., chemicals, drugs, nutrients), enabling biomarker discovery and providing mechanistic insights for medical and nutritional applications, as well as environmental research.
The use of metabolomics in precision medicine often involves the development of biomarkers to detect, stage, and monitor disease, as well as the study of how individuals respond to drug treatment. Similarly, in the field of precision nutrition, individuals have different nutrient requirements, and individuals respond differently to nutrient intake. Individuals also have many types of exposures to drugs, chemicals, and foods that can cause metabolic perturbations. Genetics, polymorphisms, and metabolic individuality can all contribute to the adverse or positive responses of an individual - and the intersection between genomics, metabolomics, and the environment (e.g., foods, nutrients, chemicals, drugs, lifestyle) comprises the focus of the NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core.
The NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core uses a variety of quantitative targeted analytical methods, and untargeted metabolomics for the simultaneous detection of signals derived from endogenous compounds (i.e., those known to map to biochemical pathways) and exogenous compounds (e.g., drugs, chemicals, and nutrients).
We have developed a number of platforms to use for the study of endogenous and exogenous compounds that represent the metabolome and the exposome. The NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core provides:
Service 1: Expert opinion related to study design, sample selection/collection and storage, proposal review and development, manuscript development and review
Service 2: Untargeted analysis using a variety of analytical methods via Mass Spectrometry
Service 3: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
Service 4: Targeted Broad Spectrum Metabolite Analysis via NMR and Mass Spectrometry
Service 5: Cytokine Arrays
Service 6: Atomic Absorption
Service 7: Statistics and Multivariate Data Analysis
Service 8: Pathway Analysis
Targeted services are available for quantitative LC-MS assays related to 1-carbon metabolism:
Name | Role | Phone | Location | |
Susan Sumner, PhD | Director, NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core | (704) 250-5066 | susan_sumner@unc.edu | Nutrition Research Institute |
Susan McRitchie, MA, MS | Core Manager | (704) 250-5067 | susan_mcritchie@unc.edu | Nutrition Research Institute |
Mirek Styblo, PhD | Director, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Lab | (919) 966-5721 | styblo@med.unc.edu | Chapel Hill |
NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core | 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081 |
8am-5pm M-F |
Name | Role | Phone | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Susan Sumner, PhD |
Director, NORC Metabolism and Metabolomics Core
|
(704) 250-5066
|
susan_sumner@unc.edu
|
Nutrition Research Institute
|
Susan McRitchie, MA, MS |
Core Manager
|
(704) 250-5067
|
susan_mcritchie@unc.edu
|
Nutrition Research Institute
|
Mirek Styblo, PhD |
Director, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Lab
|
(919) 966-5721
|
styblo@med.unc.edu
|
Chapel Hill
|