Distinguished iNANO Lecture: Biomarker profiling of heart disease and diabetes by NMR metabolomics: from public health research towards clinical use

This comprehensive metabolic profiling been used to analyse over 500,000 blood samples so far, and the high-throughput NMR platform is installed in multiple institutions including University of Oxford. Integration of the blood biomarkers with large-scale genetic data have clarified causal metabolic signatures of risk factors, such as diet and adiposity, and the detailed molecular effects of known and novel drug targets. Recently, the metabolomic biomarkers have been shown to improve prediction of the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes above established risk markers. Pilots are ongoing for use in healthcare settings.

The talk by Dr Würtz, alumni from University of Aarhus, will cover technological aspects of the metabolomics platform, highlight scientific applications and feature the successful transistion of the NMR platform from a chemistry tool to widespread use in epidemiogical research and subsequent commercialisation to a biotechnology enterprise. Currently Nightingale has >50 employees and 25M€ invested to realise widespread clinical use, illustrating translation from applied chemistry to public health impact.

Key publications:
Würtz et al, Quantitative Serum Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics in Large-Scale Epidemiology: A Primer on -Omic Technologies. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;186:1084
Würtz et al, Metabolite profiling and cardiovascular event risk: a prospective study of 3 population-based cohorts. Circulation 2015;131:774
Sliz et al, Metabolomic consequences of genetic inhibition of PCSK9 compared with statin treatment. biorXiv 2018; doi.org/10.1101/278861