Cooperated Sino-German Development of a Comprehensive Lipidomics and Metabolomics Platform for Elucidation and Functional Characterization of Novel Metabolic Biomarkers

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Rainer Lehmann
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Public Health, Gesundheitsbezogene Versorgungsforschung, Sozial- und Arbeitsmedizin
• Förderung: Förderung von 2012 bis 2016
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 223597052

Metabolomics approaches are typically performed as either top down/non targeted metabolite profiling or bottom-up/targeted approaches. Another particular recent focus of several groups has been the application of lipidomics. However, based on the analytical complexity of each approach the application of a combination of all three strategies focused in a comprehensive manner on distinct research question combined with sophisticated bioinformatics data processing is extremely rare. Moreover, only in a very few cases the missing link between novel metabolite biomarkers and their (patho)physiological function has been elucidated up to now. The aim of our joint project is to unite the great bioinformatics and analytical experiences in the groups in Dalian/China and the long-standing knowledge in bioinformatics and in studying molecular mechanisms and alterations of signal transduction processes in the two groups at the university of Tübingen in Germany for the joint investigation of one of the burdens of the 21st century, the type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a close SINO-GERMAN INTERACTION targeted metabolomics, non targeted metabolite profiling, lipidomics, bioinformatics and (patho)physiological studies will be applied to investigate functional aspects in particular of novel, so far unknown or unexpected metabolite biomarkers (e.g., detected recently in our cooperation within the SINO-GERMAN NETWORK). We expect, that the SINO-GERMAN SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS of joint expertises in analytical, bioinformatics and basic to applied diabetes research will open novel views on complex metabolite networks, unexpected positive and/or negative effects of biomarkers on signalling molecules representing critical signal transduction nodes therein, as well as elucidation of disturbed pathway cross talks and regulatory mechanisms within and in-between different organs. Furthermore, as a longstanding perspective of our analytical approach this increase in knowledge may lead to new therapeutic concepts and individualized medicine with fewer side effects by replacing chemical molecules by modified metabolites aiming to modulate (pre)-diabetes related alterations in a more physiological way.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen