Inauguration of Swedish Metabolomics Centre in Umeå
NEWS
On 11 & 12 March, the official opening of the Swedish Metabolomics Centre - a technical resource for metabolomics research – will be held in Umeå, Sweden. It is collaboration between Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå, established with the support of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. A two-day symposium of inspiring lectures will help launch the new centre.
Metabolomics is the measurement and statistical evaluation of the levels of many metabolites (thousands) in biological tissues. Research in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, infection biology, and plant and forest biotechnology are strongly associated with the metabolomics research that Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have developed since 2002. Together, the two universities have established themselves as an international leader in this emerging scientific field.
Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC) has received a major grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation to support a 5-year program, starting from 1 January 2013. The programme is co-funded by Umeå University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Chalmers University of Technology. The goal of the initiative is to expand the service and form a national node for metabolomics.
“This investment will allow us to receive more samples, to have closer contact with researchers and thereby develop platforms that are oriented for the user,” says Thomas Moritz, professor at Umeå Plant Science Centre and director of the SMC. “We also see ourselves as an educational centre for metabolomics and plan courses and opportunities for young scientists to come to us and work with metabolomics.”
Renowned speakers from Umeå and abroad have been invited to the inauguration. They will show examples of metabolomics research and technology in Sweden and Umeå. The symposium begins on Monday 11 March with lunch and ends on Tuesday with the official opening at 10:40.
The Swedish Metabolomics Centre is located at the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) in the Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) at Umeå University and has driven metabolomics services since 2002. Approximately 55,000 samples have been analysed so far with the advanced instruments of specialized staff, for research groups from all the major Swedish universities.
The official inauguration opening takes place on Tuesday 12 during 10:40 to 11:00 with Marianne Sommarin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at Umeå University and Johan Schnur, Deputy Vice-chancellor for Cooperation at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Location:"Stora hörsalen", KB3B1, KBC Building, Linaeusvägen 6. After the inauguration, there is an opportunity for journalists and other interested parties to participate in guided tours of the laboratories.
Professor Thomas MoritzDirector, Swedish Metabolomics Centre, UPSC, SLU Phone: +46 (0)90-786 84 56Mobile: +46 (0)70-26 90 684 E-mail: thomas.moritz@slu.se
Dr Jonas GullbergFacility Manager, Swedish Metabolomics Centre, UPSC, SLUPhone: +46 (0)90-786 83 93 E-mail: jonas.gullberg@slu.se
