MetaboNews -- February 2018
MetaboNews Masthead
Published in partnership between
TMIC and the Metabolomics Society
Issue 78 - February 2018

CONTENTS:


Online version of this newsletter:
 http://www.metabonews.ca/Feb2018/MetaboNews_Feb2018.htm
TMIC Services
TMIC Services

Welcome to the seventy-eighth issue of MetaboNews, a monthly newsletter published in partnership between The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC, http://www.metabolomicscentre.ca/) and the international Metabolomics Society (http://www.metabolomicssociety.org/), to keep metabolomics researchers and other professionals informed about new technologies, software, databases, events, job postings, conferences, training opportunities, interviews, publications, awards, and other newsworthy items concerning metabolomics. MetaboNews represents the one-stop-shop for the very latest and most critical news about the science of metabolomics. In this issue, we feature a Metabolomics Spotlight article titled "The Role of NIST in Improving Lipidomic Measurement".
This issue of MetaboNews is supported by:

Chenomx -- Metabolite Discovery & Measurement
Chenomx Inc.

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Metabolomics Society Logo

Metabolomics Society News

CONFERENCE CORNER
Metabolomics 2018 Banner

Metabolomics 2018: Abstract Submission is Now Open
The 14th Annual Conference of the Metabolomics Society will be held in Seattle, Washington, USA, on June 24-28, 2018. The Society’s annual conference consistently features the latest and greatest advances in metabolomics science. In 2018, we converge on Seattle, a world-class metropolis set within the lush, natural surroundings of the Pacific Northwest. Abstract submission is now open http://metabolomics2018.org/submission/abstract-submission. Submit your abstract now until March 16, 2018. We look forward to seeing you at the exciting Metabolomics 2018 meeting in Seattle!

MEMBERS CORNER

Board of Directors
Words from the Chair (Jules Griffin)
One of my New Year resolutions is to keep up more with the work of all the committees and task groups of the Society so I thought this timely to remind you that these are an excellent way to get involved with the work of the society and also contribute some keynote papers to the field. If you are unfamiliar with how we organize these you can go to our website (www.metabolomicssociety.org) and click on the link for "Board & Committees". You will see links to "Society Committees", "Scientific Task Groups" and "Other Society Task Groups". Broadly speaking the Committees are largely made up of Board members and deal with the major tasks we need to keep the society going. We are currently going through a slight re-vamp of these committees and as soon as we have our bylaws ratified we should split the Conference and Training Committee into two. So if you are thinking of organizing a local meeting you can contact the Conference Committee (chaired by Sastia Putri) and apply for some sponsorship in many cases from the Society—often a useful way to sponsor students to attend. Alternatively you might want to organize a training workshop—again, I would encourage you to look to the society and contact the Training the Society (chaired by Christoph Junot).

Next comes the Task Groups and a real opportunity to contribute to the community. I'm a member of the Metabolite Identification Task Group and we are in the middle of modifying the scoring system for metabolite annotation and identification. These task groups feed through to many of the workshops you will see in Seattle in June and also produce key opinion pieces for the community. These can be very highly cited publications, and indeed they are amongst my highest cited papers. So with that carrot I encourage you all to get involved in the society’s task groups.

Early-career Members Network (EMN)
Bursary program
EMN bursary program provides support to early-career scientists (including graduate students and post-docs) to attend national and international events related to the metabolomics field. Early-career scientists will be able to apply for a bursary ($500) towards the cost of travel and conference/event fees. The program will be announced shortly through the society website and EMN Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/EMN.MetabolomicsSociety/).

EMN webinar series
Please stay tuned and look out for the next EMN webinar series session. Make sure to check the Metabolomics Society website, Twitter, and EMN Facebook page for updates on the webinar.

New to metabolomics or stuck with a problem? We recommend Metabolomics Wiki and Metabolomics Forum.

Please follow us on Twitter (@MetabolomicsSoc) and Facebook (@EMN.metabolomicssociety) to stay up-to-date on all news and upcoming events. If you have any feedback or comments regarding our planned activities this year (i.e., online webinars, workshops, and events), please feel free to contact us.
 Spotlight

Metabolomics Spotlight

The Role of NIST in Improving Lipidomic Measurement

 Feature article contributed by John A. Bowden1, Candice Z. Ulmer1, Christina M. Jones2, Jeremy P. Koelmel3

1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Marine Biochemical Sciences Group, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412 USA
2National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Organic Chemical Measurement Science Group, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899 USA
3University of Florida, Department of Chemistry, 125 Buckman Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

The field of lipidomics has rapidly progressed with many new users, advancing technologies, and exciting new applications. Therefore, it is imperative for this expanding community to evaluate progress within the field to begin the process of harmonization, the precursor to standardization. There are currently no best practice guidelines for lipidomics. There are also no set criteria for evaluating data quality, quantitation, and the extent of variability in lipid measurement across the community; having the ability to control, reduce, and understand intralaboratory and interlaboratory variability will be critical in validating the discovery of real biological differences. Harmonization will increase reproducibility and thus comparability of study data, enabling data aggregation and sharing, in addition to meta-analysis. With this in mind, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) engaged the international lipidomics community during the summer of 2014 in the first interlaboratory comparison exercise for lipidomics. The exercise was a critical first step toward implementing community-wide harmonization and stimulating discussion regarding the aspects of lipid measurement that require future attention.

The NIST Lipidomics Interlaboratory comparison exercise comprised 30 laboratories with varying levels of expertise and methodologies. The following five materials were included in the exercise: Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2378 - Fatty Acids in Frozen Human Serum (levels 1, 2, and 3), SRM 1950 Metabolites in Frozen Human Plasma, and a custom-made bovine liver lipid extract (Figure 1). The latter pre-extracted material was included to evaluate the variability in lipid measurement, without the influence of the sample preparation step. Each participating laboratory was asked to use their current analytical workflow (either targeted or untargeted) to analyze each sample in triplicate and to report lipids that they typically identify and quantify with confidence. For SRM 1950, there were over 1500 unique lipids reported. The main deliverable of the study was the introduction of consensus mean values for 339 lipids for SRM 1950. Consensus means with an associated uncertainty were determined for those lipids measured by at least five laboratories and serve as an estimated/probable concentration of the lipid in the material. These benchmark concentration values now allow the community to extend quality control activities from inside the laboratory to across the community. For more about the exercise, please see the manuscript recently published in Journal of Lipid Research (1) and the related, freely available NIST Internal Report 8185 (2), which has all data presented in graphical and tabular forms. Efforts are underway to publish the results relating to the other analyzed materials (e.g., SRM 2378 series, bovine liver extracts).

Materials examined with the interlaboratory exercise

Figure 1. Materials examined with the interlaboratory exercise. (Left) SRM 1950 - Metabolites in Frozen Human Plasma; (Middle) SRM series 2378 - Fatty Acids in Frozen Human Serum, which is human serum from donors who had taken fish oil supplements, flaxseed oil supplements, or who had not taken fish or flaxseed oil supplements; and (Right) custom-made bovine liver lipid extract in chloroform (Avanti Polar Lipids).

During the exercise, several helpful tools were created ancillary to the main exercise. LipidPioneer (3), a comprehensive user-generated exact mass template for lipidomics was conceived to help vet the submitted data by lipid identification, m/z, and the adduct employed. Over 60 lipid classes are present in the LipidPioneer template, including several unique lipid species such as ether-linked lipids and lipid oxidation products. Upon finalizing the interlaboratory manuscript, LipidQC (4) was also developed as a semi-automated visualization tool for the rapid comparison of experimentally-derived user SRM 1950 data to the community-derived consensus means (and associated uncertainties) measured in the interlaboratory study. LipidQC allows lipidomics users to visually compare data covering 19 lipid classes in SRM 1950 from not only LC platforms, but also direct infusion platforms and various mass spectrometers (high resolution and low resolution).

In order to engage a larger cross-section of the lipidomics community, the NIST Lipidomics Interlaboratory exercise was followed by a 54-question survey that asked laboratories to provide more detailed information regarding all aspects of their lipidomics workflow. In total, 125 individuals responded to the survey (out of a total of 322 laboratories invited). Survey questions included the following topics: laboratory demographics, lipidomic workflow methodologies, analytical platforms, quantitation, standard operating procedures, quality control activities, data handling, and perceived challenges within the community. As an example, Figure 2 shows the perceived challenges in the lipidomics community based on the survey responses. The complete results of the survey were submitted in a manuscript to Metabolomics (in review, titled "NIST Lipidomics Workflow Questionnaire: An Assessment of Community-Wide Methodologies and Perspectives"). Efforts to address these challenges are underway—and include, but are not limited to, the formation of a lipidomic research group (LRG) at the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) in 2018.

Perceived biggest challenge with current lipidomics measurement

Figure 2. Results for the survey inquiry about the perceived biggest challenge with current lipidomics measurement. The values are shown as a percentage of total responses (n = 408); note that laboratories had the option to select more than one choice.
 
Future NIST efforts to engage the community in improving lipidomic measurement and harmonization are focused on the creation of affordable community-guided reference materials (tissue and bio-fluid-based) that can be applicable across the omics (e.g., lipidomics, metabolomics, proteomics). These materials will be invaluable as training materials, quality control materials, and for study comparison materials both within and among laboratories. If you are interested in providing suggestions for NIST’s role in measurement harmonization (and/or want to participate in upcoming activities), please fill out the survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJMSHFS, or contact John A. Bowden, john.bowden@nist.gov.

References
  1. Bowden JA, Heckert A, Ulmer CZ, Jones CM, Koelmel JP, Abdullah L, et al. Harmonizing Lipidomics: NIST Interlaboratory Comparison Exercise for Lipidomics using Standard Reference Material 1950-Metabolites in Frozen Human Plasma. J Lipid Res. 2017 Dec;58(12):2275-2288. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M079012. Epub 2017 Oct 6.
  2. Bowden JA, Ulmer CZ, Jones CM, Heckert NA. Lipid Concentrations in Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1950: Results from an Interlaboratory Comparison Exercise for Lipidomics. National Institute of Standards and Technology 2017.
  3. Ulmer CZ, Koelmel JP, Ragland JM, Garrett TJ, Bowden JA. LipidPioneer: A Comprehensive User-Generated Exact Mass Template for Lipidomics. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2017 Mar;28(3):562-565. doi: 10.1007/s13361-016-1579-6. Epub 2017 Jan 10.
  4. Ulmer CZ, Ragland JM, Koelmel JP, Heckert A, Jones CM, Garrett TJ, et al. LipidQC: Method Validation Tool for Visual Comparison to SRM 1950 Using NIST Interlaboratory Comparison Exercise Lipid Consensus Mean Estimate Values. Anal Chem. 2017 Dec 19;89(24):13069-13073. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04042. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Please note: If you know of any metabolomics research programs, software, databases, statistical methods, meetings, workshops, or training sessions that we should feature in future issues of this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe at metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com.
Metabolomics Current Contents

Metabolomics Current Contents

Recently published papers in metabolomics:


Metabolomics Events

Metabolomics Events 

15 Jan-9 Feb 2018
Metabolomics: Understanding Metabolism in the 21st Century
Venue: Online

Discover how metabolomics is revolutionising our understanding of metabolism with this free MOOC course, now on its 5th course run!

What topics will you cover?
  • Metabolism and the interaction of the metabolome with the genome, proteome and the environment
  • The advantages of studying the metabolome
  • The application of hypothesis generating studies versus the use of traditional hypothesis directed research
  • The use of targeted and non-targeted studies in metabolomics
  • An interdisciplinary approach with case-studies from clinical and environmental scientific areas
  • Important considerations in studying the metabolome
  • Experimental design and sample preparation
  • The application of mass spectrometry in metabolomics
  • An introduction to data processing and analysis
  • Metabolite identification
For further information and to register, please visit https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/metabolomics .
27 Feb-2 Mar 2018
Hands-on Data Analysis for Metabolic Profiling
Venue: Imperial College London, London, UK

Standard: £1100

Registration: Open - please register

This 4 day course provides a comprehensive overview of data analysis for metabolic profiling studies with data acquired from NMR spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. It combines lectures and tutorial sessions to ensure a thorough understanding of the theory and practical applications.

Day 1
Introductory lectures and tutorials regarding the pre-processing of data acquired via NMR and LC-MS.

Day 2
Lectures and tutorials introducing exploratory chemometrics approaches, including PCA.
 
Day 3
Lectures and tutorials covering advanced chemometrics techniques including PLS and Orthogonal PLS.

Day 4
The next step - computational tools to aid metabolite identification and pathway analysis.

This course has been approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This event has been awarded 20 CPD credits by the Royal Society of Medicine in accordance with its current guidelines.

For more information, visit http://www.imperial.ac.uk/imperial-international-phenome-training-centre/courses/hands-on-data-analysis-for-metabolic-profiling/.
4-9 Mar 2018
NERC-MDIBL Environmental Genomics and Metabolomics 2018
Venue: Nicholson Building, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

NERC bursaries are available for this course, covering attendees' registration, travel and accommodations cost:
  • Sixteen (16) bursaries are available for the metabolomics track
Course information:
This 5 day course highlights a multi-omics approach (systems biology) approach to research in the environmental scientists, investigating how gene function and metabolism are influenced by environmental conditions while accounting for natural variation within and among natural populations. The course is built on the paradigm that this multidisciplinary research field encompassing ecology, evolution, toxicology, biostatistics and informatics will most effectively grow by training early career scientists to:
  • Design large-scale Next Generation Sequencing and Metabolomics experiments and
  • Address the challenges of manipulating and analysing population-level omics data
The course will provide a significant introduction, considerable hands-on experience and networking opportunities so that participants can initiate their own environmental omics studies and launch Environmental Scientists careers in academic and industry.

Level: The course is designed to train PhD students and early-career post-doctoral scientists.

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/conferences/mdibl-course/index.aspx.
19-21 Mar 2018
4th Annual Metabolomics Symposium on Clinical and Pharmaceutical Solutions through Analysis (CPSA Metabolomics 2018)
Venue: The University of Florida Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA  

Plenary Lecture at CPSA Metabolomics 2018!
We are extremely excited and honored to feature Alla Kloss of Sanofi as the Plenary Lecturer for the 4th Annual Metabolomics Symposium on Clinical and Pharmaceutical Solutions through Analysis (CPSA Metabolomics 2018). Her lecture "Applied Metabolomics: The Way to Reduce Element of Surprise in Pharmaceutical Industry" will be a perfect way to begin the symposia and roundtable discussions. Visit the updated program agenda and make plans to join the conversation!

Travel & Accommodations
Prepare now for your Travel & Accommodations for CPSA Metabolomics 2018. Make your hotel reservations at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center. Reserve your room on-line or call the hotel directly (352-371-3600).

Registration
Registration is open! Click on the CPSA Metabolomics 2018 registration link and register today!

For further information, please visit http://www.cpsa-metabolomics.com/2018/index.shtml.
19-23 Mar 2018
Hands-on LC-MS for Metabolic Profiling
Venue: Imperial International Phenome Training Centre, Imperial College London, UK  

Earlybird: £1750
Standard: £1950

This week long course covers how to perform a metabolic profiling experiment from start to finish. It will cover study design, sample preparation, the use of mass spectrometry for global profiling, targeted methodologies and data analysis.

Day 1: Introductory lectures in mass spectrometry and chromatography, study design and sample preparation, followed by preparation of biological samples for analysis on subsequent days.

Days 2 and 3: Analysis of biofluids through global profiling and targeted analyses; an introductory session to liquid chromatography, followed by sessions on each of the newest QToF and TQ instrumentation. Instrument set up, method development and acquisition will be covered. We have set a maximum of 3 attendees per instrument allowing for hands-on participation by all. Day 3 finishes with introduction to data analysis.

Day 4: Data analysis workshops where attendees will process the data acquired from the previous days, mixed with further statistics lectures, allowing for development of interpretation skills.

Day 5: Application lectures, tips, tricks and troubleshooting, optional trip to the MRC-NIHR National Phenome Centre.

For further information, please visit http://www.imperial.ac.uk/imperial-international-phenome-training-centre/courses/hands-on-lc-ms-for-metabolic-profiling/.
21-23 Mar 2018
Introduction to Metabolomics for the Microbiologist
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This three-day course will introduce the attendees in how untargeted metabolomics can be applied to study microbial systems in academic and industrial research. The course will provide an overview of the metabolomics pipeline from experimental design to sample preparation and data acquisition to data analysis/interpretation. The course will be led by experts in the field of metabolomics and will include lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions in sample preparation and data acquisition and computer workshops focused on data processing and data analysis.

Topics covered:
  • Introduction to metabolomics, both targeted and untargeted approaches
  • Experimental design and the importance of quality control samples in untargeted metabolomics
  • Analytical strategies applied in metabolomics with a focus on mass spectrometry
  • Hands-on laboratory sessions focused on sample preparation and to include metabolic quenching and extraction procedures, intracellular and exometabolome samples and polar and non-polar extraction methods
  • Hands-on laboratory sessions focused on sample analysis for untargeted metabolomics studies using an Acquity UPLC coupled to a Xevo QToF mass spectrometer
  • Hands-on workshop focused on data processing and data analysis
  • Hands-on workshop focused on an introduction to metabolite identification
  • Question and answer session with the experts
Level: The course is aimed at individuals with minimal experience of applying metabolomics in their research and no or limited experience of using a liquid chromatography – mass spectrometer. The attendees will leave the course understanding and being able to apply the metabolomics pipeline in their research.

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/introduction-metabolomics-microbiologist.aspx.
2-27 Apr 2018
Metabolomics Data Processing and Data Analysis
Venue: Online  

This online course will explore the tools and approaches that are used to process and analyse metabolomics data, we will investigate the challenges that are typically encountered in the analysis of metabolomics data and provide solutions to overcome these problems. The course will be delivered using a combination of short videos, articles, discussions, and online workshops with step-by-step instructions and test data sets. We will provide quizzes, polls and peer review exercises each week, so that you can review your learning throughout the course.

Course Syllabus:
  • An introduction to metabolomics
  • An overview of the untargeted metabolomics workflow
  • The influence of experimental design and data acquisition on data analysis and data quality
  • Processing of NMR data
  • Processing direct infusion mass spectrometry data
  • Processing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data
  • Reporting standards and data repositories
  • Data analysis, detecting outliers and drift, and pre-treatment methods
  • Univariate data analysis
  • Multivariate data analysis (including unsupervised and supervised approaches)
  • The importance of statistical validation of results
  • Computational approaches for metabolite identification and translation of results into biological knowledge
  • What are the future challenges for data processing and analysis in metabolomics
Level: The course would be ideally suited to MSc / PhD students or scientists who are in the early stages of analysing metabolomics data. No previous knowledge of the data processing and statistical analysis approaches is assumed, but a basic understanding of the metabolome, and the analytical techniques applied in the metabolomics field would be beneficial. A pre-course recommended reading list will be provided.

For further information and to register, please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/Metabolomics-Data-Processing-and-Data-Analysis.aspx.
16-17 Apr 2018
Metabolite identification with the Q Exactive and LTQ Orbitrap
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This 2-day course will provide a hands-on approach to teach the latest techniques and tools available to perform metabolite identification. We will apply these tools on the Q Exactive and LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry family. The course is targeted towards students and researchers who are actively applying metabolomics.

The course will be led by experts in the field and include significant hands-on experience using both the Q Exactive and LTQ Orbitrap instruments to perform:
  • Data dependent acquisition
  • Data independent acquisition
  • MS/MS and MSn data acquisition
The course will finish with a session on the tips and tricks from the experts and an opportunity to ask questions.

For further information and registration details, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/metabolite-identification.aspx or contact bmtc@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
17-20 Apr 2018
Hands-On Metabolomics Workshop
Venue: Skaggs School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA  

The Reisdorph Lab is offering Hands-On Workshops at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. Participants will learn introductory metabolomics or proteomics science and applicable protocols and technologies through a comprehensive, hands-on exploration of typical mass spectrometry-based workflows. Class size is limited to 10 participants to ensure excellent participant:instructor ratios. Workshops include topics such as experimental design, sample preparation, mass spectrometry basics, data acquisition, advanced technologies, and quantitative analyses. Over one-half of the workshop is spent in the laboratory performing sample preparation or acquiring/analyzing data on mass spectrometers. Several lectures and laboratories focus on data analysis strategies.

These workshops are appropriate for individuals with little to no experience in mass spectrometry and/or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), who desire a comprehensive overview of metabolomics or proteomics, including bioinformatics. Individuals who are considering incorporating metabolomics or proteomics into their own research would also greatly benefit from these workshops, and include:
  • Principal investigators
  • Medical Researchers
  • Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows
  • Mass Spectrometry Core Users
  • Industry Sales Representatives
  • Bioinformaticists
  • Others who need to be familiar with typical metabolomics and proteomics workflows
For further information, please visit http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/pharmacy/AboutUs/NewsEvents/MetabolomicsWorkshop/Pages/default.aspx.
7 May 2018
Introduction to Metabolomics for the Clinical Scientist
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This 1-day course in partnership with the Phenome Centre Birmingham will provide clinicians with an overview of the metabolomics pipeline, highlighting the benefits of the technique to the medical field. The course will provide an:
  • Introduction to experimental design and sample collection
  • An overview of both the analytical and computational methods applied in the field
  • Case studies and panel discussions with the experts
For further information and registrations details, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/introduction-metabolomics.aspx or contact bmtc@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
15-17 May 2018
Metabolomics with the Q Exactive
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This 3-day course will introduce you to using the Q Exactive mass spectrometer in your metabolomics investigations. The course is aimed at students and researchers with minimal previous experience of applying LC-MS in metabolomics. The course will be led by experts in the field and include lectures, laboratory sessions and computer workshops to provide:
  • An introduction to metabolomics and using the Q Exactive mass spectrometer in your studies
  • Polar and non-polar sample preparation for profiling and targeted studies
  • Data acquisition for profiling and targeted studies
  • Data processing and data analysis
  • Introduction to metabolite identification
The course will finish with a question and answer session with a panel of experts.

For further information and registration details, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/q-exactive.aspx or contact bmtc@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
16-17 May 2018
2nd Annual Ohio Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Symposium
Venue: Blackwell Inn, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA  

The 2nd Annual Ohio Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Symposium will be held at the Blackwell Inn at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on May 16-17, 2018. This joint meeting of the 2nd Annual Conference on Food and Nutritional Metabolomics for Health and the 15th Annual Ohio Mass Spectrometry Symposium will build on the success of the inaugural May 2017 joint meeting, which was attended by 234 individuals representing 42 academic and industry organizations. The purpose of this two-day event is to provide an opportunity for academic and industrial researchers to present their findings, share information, discuss research challenges with colleagues, and spark new collaborations.

Registration will open in February. Please visit go.osu.edu/omsms2018 for up-to-date information about the symposium and links to registration.
7-8 June 2018
Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Metabolomics
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This 2-day course will provide a comprehensive overview of the application of quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in metabolic phenotyping. The course is aimed at students and researchers who are actively working in the field. Experts who have developed the application of QA and QC procedures within the field will lead the course. It will include both theoretical and practical components to:
  • Introduce QA and QC in metabolic phenotyping
  • The application of QA and QC in untargeted and targeted studies
  • Preparation of QCs and data acquisition
  • Data processing and reporting standards
The course will finish with a question and answer session with a panel of experts.

For further information and registration details, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/quality-phenotyping.aspx or contact bmtc@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
11-13 June 2018
Workshop: "I ran my metabolomics - now what?"
Venue: Genome Center of the University of California, Davis, California, USA  

A three-day workshop on cheminformatics applications to metabolism research comprising formal lectures and hands-on instruction will be held at the Genome Center of the University of California, Davis from the 11th to the 13th of June, 2018.

This workshop is free of charge and it will include the use of the MINE Database and tools as well as other cheminformatics and bioinformatics programs instrumental to biochemists, physiologists, and biologists working in metabolism.

Our workshop is also suitable for researchers in the fields of medicine and synthetic biology who need an update in state of the art metabolomics.

Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA) travel grants for graduate students and postdocs
The NSF-funded Research Coordination Network for Plant, Animal and Microbial Metabolomics (PAMM-net) sponsors MANA travel grants for graduate students and postdocs for transport and accommodation to the free course "I ran my metabolomics. Now what?", June 11-13, 2018. Please, apply by email to Claudia Lerma-Ortiz (clerma@ufl.edu) latest by March 01, 2018, attaching a single PDF file with sponsor letter, download the form sheet here. Please note if you belong to a minority-serving institution. Winners will be selected by the course organizers and Pamm-net latest by March 15, 2018.

Find here all the paperwork:
For further information, please visit http://fiehnlab.ucdavis.edu/events/special-events.
25-28 June 2018
Metabolomics 2018
Venue: Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, USA  

We are delighted to invite you to the 14th International Conference of the Metabolomics Society, which will be held in Seattle, Washington, USA June 24-28, 2018, at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. The Convention Center boasts award winning catering, nearby accommodations and dining options within easy walking distance, direct air connections to major cities worldwide and excellent local transportation. Seattle, in addition to being situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, is a major hub for science and technology, and is home to more than 25 research institutions and many major companies with global reach.

The conference has an overall goal of Making Connections, with major scientific themes of systems biology, big data, technology advances, precision medicine and translational science, plant metabolomics, the microbiome, and the exposome, including environmental and nutritional metabolomics. In addition, the conference will provide a number of networking opportunities to help establish connections for early career scientists, metabolomics scientists across the Pacific Rim as well as globally.

Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA) travel grants
The first MANA event is planned in conjunction with the Metabolomics Society conference, Seattle, Washington, USA, June 2018. The West Coast Metabolomics Center (UC Davis) and a MANA board member sponsor six MANA travel grants to the Metabolomics Society conference at $500 each for MANA members.  Please, apply by email to metabolomics.na@gmail.com latest by March 15, 2018, attaching a single PDF file with your academic biosketch, reasons why you will need travel support, and the abstract of the presentation you would like to give at the Metabolomics Society conference. No restrictions, any MANA member can apply. Winners will be selected by the MANA board by April 15, 2018.
For further information, please visit http://metabolomics2018.org/.
23-25 Jul 2018
Multiple biofluid and tissue types, from sample preparation to analysis strategies for metabolomics
Venue: Birmingham Metabolomics Training Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK  

Limited bursaries are now available for PhD students funded by NERC, which make the registration for this course FREE to these students.

This 3-day course will provide a comprehensive overview of dealing with complex biological samples for LC-MS analysis. The course is targeted towards students and researchers who are actively applying metabolomics in their research. The course will be led by experts in the field and include:
  • An overview of quenching and extraction strategies for different biological samples
  • Hands-on sample preparation using different sample types
  • Hands-on HILIC and reversed phase LC-MS data acquisition
  • Solid phase extraction clean up methods
  • An overview of data analysis and metabolite identification
  • An opportunity to ask questions and seek advice to prepare samples in your own research
For further information and registration details, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/metabolomics-training-centre/courses/sample-analysis.aspx or contact bmtc@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
6-9 Aug 2018
1st Annual North American Mass Spectrometry Summer School
Venue: University of Wisconsin-Madison,University of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Organizers: Josh Coon, Mike Sussman, Lingjun Li, and Dave Pagliarini

Thank you for your interest in the 1st Annual North American Mass Spectrometry Summer School held on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

While we anticipate many of our participants to be graduate students or postdocs, we encourage anyone interested in learning more about mass spectrometry to apply.

Please keep in mind as you continue, that the following application only shows your interest in participating in the Summer School. Once completed, the Organizers will consider all applications and accept students on a rolling basis.

The NSF- and NIGMS- funded North American Mass Spectrometry Summer School (August 6-9, 2018 at University of Wisconsin, Madison) invites applications for travel grants. A maximum of 50 scholars will receive accommodation, and 10 scholars will receive funds to cover airfare. Decisions will be based on scientific justification to receive training, scholarly excellence (for different levels of experience), funding need and alignment with NSF- and NIH- criteria (encouraging applications from scientists from underrepresented minorities). Applications end by April 01, 2018 but decisions are made on a rolling basis - apply early!

Conference Flyer

For more information about the Summer School, visit https://uwmadison.eventsair.com/massspectrometry/reg/Site/Register.
30 Aug-1 Sep 2018
The Australian & New Zealand Metabolomics Conference
Venue: University of Auckland, New Zealand  

Metabolomics research in Australia is gathering momentum. Interest in the discipline is growing rapidly with metabolomics-focused laboratories steadily increasing in number throughout Australia. Over the past five years, the metabolomics community have demonstrated significant interest in showcasing their world class research. The provision of equally world-class symposia and integrative conferences remain vital in providing critical networking opportunities and facilitating a wider scientific exposure of Metabolomics to the A&NZ communities. In 2016, a new Metabolomics conference was successfully launched in Melbourne, Australia; an annual metabolomics conference – with a unique twist!

Traditional conferences function in quite a similar manner: Conference session topics are predetermined and are structured to disseminate pre-planned material following a ‘one-to-many’ style. While many attend conferences to network, the development of meaningful connections with other attendees are not typically actively supported by conference organisers outside of hosted luncheons and social events.

The ANZMET conference (www.anzmet.org) is designed from conception as a community-owned event and provides a facilitated networking experience where (1) attendees learn on the first day of each others interests, experience, scientific background, collaboration opportunities and other avenues for outreach (The Round-table Discussion); (2) an open-forum format for rich discourse on spontaneous peer-selected topics (The Peer Session); (3) the delivery of critical updates in the field (Traditional Presentations) and (4) the tailored and vital exposure of young scientists to the wider research community (Rapid-fire Postgraduate Presentation Sessions).

For further information, please visit http://www.anzmet.org/.

Please note: If you know of any metabolomics lectures, meetings, workshops, or training sessions that we should feature in future issues of this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com).
Metabolomics Jobs

Metabolomics Jobs

This is a resource for advertising positions in metabolomics. If you have a job you would like posted in this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com). Job postings will be carried for a maximum of four issues (eight weeks) unless the position is filled prior to that date.

Jobs Offered

Job Title Employer Location Posted Closes Source
Various Positions

29-Jan-2018
Metabolomics Association
of North America
Postdoctoral Position in Diet x Gut Microbiome-Based Metabotypes in Precision Nutrition
 Chalmers University of Technology
 Gothenburg, Sweden
 25-Jan-2018 14-Feb-2018
 Chalmers University of Technology
Postdoctoral Researcher in Metabolomics of Pulmonary Medicine
 Karolinska Institutet
 Stockholm, Sweden
 23-Jan-2018 31-Mar-2018
 naturejobs.com
Postdoctoral Position in Bioinformatics The Metabolomics Innovation Centre Edmonton, Canada 4-Jan-2018 Until filled University of Alberta
Postdoctoral Position in Analytical Chemistry The Metabolomics Innovation Centre Edmonton, Canada 4-Jan-2018 Until filled University of Alberta


Jobs Wanted

This section is intended for very highly qualified individuals (e.g., lab managers, professors, directors, executives with extensive experience) who are seeking employment in metabolomics. We encourage these individuals to submit their position requests to Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com). Upon review, a limited number of job submissions will be selected for publication in the Jobs Wanted section.

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