Basic Science

Metabolomics is an approach crafted from basic research and the combining of information from systems in the domains of biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and engineering. It covers a vast field of small molecule players in cells and tissues, such as sugars, lipids, vitamins, amino acids, lipids, and many other molecules such as those involved in environmental processes. Research performed at GUMC is invaluable to developing this field from a biomedical standpoint, however, active participation by faculty across campuses through the Center is encouraged to extend to important related areas including basic science, environmental science, astrobiology, instrumentation development, and others. There is the opportunity for a sharp increase in interactions with GU faculty with the development of the Center, as there are already requests for collaborations and metabolomics services that currently go unmet, often due to funding limitations; pilot projects will reduce this limitation. The Center can provide analytical capabilities to further strengthen research collaborations regarding environmentally important molecules, for example, and to create a synergy with the Georgetown Environment Initiative (GEI). Strong connections with College faculty adds value and enhances campus-wide partnerships in sciences from medicine to environment, chemistry, fundamental biology, math, and engineering and furthers the objective of systems medicine.