Reading the Body's Chemical Language
Metabolomics is the comprehensive study of small-molecule metabolites — amino acids, lipids, organic acids, nucleotides — within a biological sample. These molecules are the downstream products of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, and they reflect actual physiological state more directly than any upstream measurement.
Using LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry) and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), we profile serum and urine metabolomes in companion animals across a range of disease states, identifying biomarkers that can guide nutritional intervention and monitor treatment response.
LC-MS/MS
High-sensitivity detection of low-abundance metabolites in complex matrices. Used for targeted amino acid panels, lipidomics, and bile acid profiling.
HPLC (UV/FLD)
Quantitative analysis of water-soluble vitamins, organic acids, and urinary markers. High throughput for large-cohort clinical studies.
Multivariate Statistics
PCA, PLS-DA, and OPLS-DA to distinguish disease from healthy metabolomic signatures and identify the most discriminant biomarker candidates.
Pathway Mapping
Integrating metabolite panels with KEGG and MetaboAnalyst pathway databases to understand which metabolic routes are disrupted in disease.
Disease-Specific Research Focus
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Key Markers
Uremic toxins (indoxyl sulfate, p-cresol sulfate), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), creatinine-to-BUN ratio dynamics
Research Goal
Early detection biomarkers; monitoring phosphorus restriction efficacy
Hepatic Disease
Key Markers
Bile acids (primary/secondary), branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), ammonia metabolites, medium-chain acylcarnitines
Research Goal
Stratifying hepatic dysfunction severity and guiding protein source selection
Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity
Key Markers
Insulin resistance surrogates, adipokines, short-chain fatty acid precursors, triglyceride/HDL ratios
Research Goal
Identifying metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) patients and customizing caloric restriction