NEWS The second edition of the Metabolomics in Life Science conference, held on 27–28 January 2026 in Umeå, once again brought together researchers, industry partners, and experts from across the world. Building on the success of the inaugural meeting, the conference further strengthened Umeå’s position as a growing hub for metabolomics research and collaboration.
The event gathered an international audience and provided a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, presenting new discoveries, and fostering collaborations across disciplines. Participants emphasized the value of the meeting’s focused and interactive format, which encouraged discussions and close engagement between scientists at different career stages.
The conference took place at the Väven Conference Centre in Umeå, beautifully located by the Umeå River.
ImageAinhoa QuerejetaAdvancing metabolomics research
Metabolomics—the large-scale study of small molecules reflecting biological processes—continues to play an increasingly important role in life science research. Analysis of metabolites can uncover early markers of disease, enabling faster diagnosis and improved treatments, as well as providing valuable insights into disease pathogenesis, plant defence mechanisms against stress or pests, and the hidden impacts of environmental exposures on human health.
The 2026 conference highlighted recent developments in both Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches, with applications ranging from clinical and precision medicine to plant biology, exposomics, and computational analysis.
Participants appreciated the dedicated time and supportive environment for discussions.
ImageAinhoa QuerejetaThe scientific programme featured six internationally recognised keynote speakers, including Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial College London), Professor Roel Vermeulen (Utrecht University), Professor Ingela Lanekoff (Uppsala University), Dr. Lorenzo Caputi (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology), Professor Peter Vermathen (University Hospital Bern), and Dr. Johannes Rainer (Eurac Research). Their presentations showcased cutting-edge research, from microbial metabolism in human disease to single-cell metabolomics and open software development for large-scale data analysis.
Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas (Imperial College London) was introduced by his long-time colleague, Professor Henrik Antti, Head of the Department of Chemistry at Umeå University
Image Ilona DudkaReflecting on the event, keynote speaker Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas noted: “Congratulations on organising a fantastic conference with a first-class programme.”
Participants highlighted the breadth of topics and the balance between different analytical techniques as key strengths of the meeting. Sessions on computational metabolomics, multi-omics integration, and clinical applications were particularly well received, alongside emerging areas such as spatial and single-cell metabolomics.
A collaborative effort in Umeå
The conference was jointly organised by SciLifeLab platforms in Umeå: the Swedish NMR Centre (SNC), the Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC), and the Computational Analytics Support Platform (CASP). Together, these infrastructures provide comprehensive support for metabolomics research, from data acquisition to advanced computational analysis.
The poster session was engaging and sparked many interesting discussions
ImageAinhoa QuerejetaThe continued international participation and positive feedback confirm the importance of creating platforms where researchers and industry can meet, exchange knowledge, and build collaborations. The conference also featured poster sessions and industry exhibitions, offering additional opportunities for interaction and showcasing new technologies.
Dr. Qing Zhao (Lexie) travelled to the conference all the way from Singapore to present her research and expressed her appreciation for the meeting
Image PrivateSharing a participant perspective, Dr. Qing Zhao from the National University of Singapore said:
It was a fantastic experience, and I truly enjoyed meeting everyone and learning more about the metabolomics work being done in Sweden
Strengthening networks and future directions
Participants praised the high scientific quality, excellent organisation, and welcoming atmosphere of the meeting. The relatively small scale of the conference was seen as a major advantage, allowing meaningful networking and in-depth discussions.
The organisers also highlighted the importance of the meeting for the community. Dr. Ilona Dudka and Dr. Kate Bennett noted:
This conference is an important platform for bringing together the metabolomics community across disciplines and countries. It is very rewarding to organise an event that fosters collaboration, exchange of ideas, and supports the continued development of the field.
Organisers Dr. Ilona Dudka (SNC, Umeå) and Dr. Kate Bennett (CASP) enjoyed organising the conference and highlighted Umeå’s growing role on the metabolomics map
ImageAinhoa QuerejetaThe strong engagement from both returning and new participants demonstrates the growing interest in the conference and its role within the international metabolomics community. The second edition further established Metabolomics in Life Science as a recurring event in Umeå, continuing to support collaboration and innovation in the field.
Read more about an earlier event, Metabolomics in Life Science 1.0, 30-31 January 2024 in Umeå: The world metabolomics community gathers in the North
