Training and Education

Training the Next Generation of Researchers

Despite rapid advances in metabolomics technologies and the need for understanding the human metabolome, metabolomics applications in biomedical research remain limited. This is partly due to the combination of lack of awareness in the value of large-scale metabolic understanding, inadequate access to high end instrumentation, and a lack of experience in experimental design, sample handling/processing, and complex data analysis and biochemical interpretation. The purpose of this Core is to provide the proper outreach, training, education, and support to overcome most barriers to integrating metabolomics approaches into mainstream basic and translational research.

The facility offer an annual hands on workshop that covers practical experience in sample preparation, data acquisitions and reduction, accompanied by overawes of analytical and theoretical principles by the Center Staff and invited experts. The workshop is accompanied by a one-day symposium in which cutting edge research is presented by leading practitioners, to demonstrate how metabolic studies can be integrated into basic and translational programs. The Center runs a Pilot Program as a means to acquire preliminary data to foster the use of metabolic studies as part of a research program. The Center develops methods and validates them as SOPs that are deposited at DRCC. Videos of many of the procedures used are also available for download. The Center welcomes visits by interested researchers at all levels.

For answers to the questions of "what is metabolomics?" and "what is stable isotope-resolved metabolomics (SIRM)?", review our page here.

Pilot and Feasibility Grants

The purpose of the pilot and feasibility grants is to promote the use of stable isotope-resolved metabolomics in the broader research community via the use of this Center. They are specifically designed to support projects that will provide preliminary data for new extramural grant proposals that incorporates metabolomics into new areas of biomedical research. The expected outcome is to broaden the use of metabolomics in the broader research community and to foster collaborations and partnerships with the Center.

Courses

• New online courses are being developed for the Graduate Program in Toxicology and Cancer Biology at the University of Kentucky.
• This is a graduate level course held at the University of Kentucky that is a development of the earlier Systems Biochemistry Course held at the University if Louisville. The emphasis in this course is Toxicology and Cancer Biology from a Systems Biochemistry perspective. The intention is to make the course materials available on-line.
• Training videos are available here.
• Graduate Course Toxicology 780 information (2021-2022)

Older Courses

• CHEM 648 - Systems Biochemistry: Principles and Practices, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Louisville
• CHEM 652 - Practical Approaches to Metabolomics, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Louisville
• CHEM 528 - Contemporary Methods of Synthesis and Analysis I, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Louisville