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    Science Saturday: Scientists collaborate to paint a better picture of patient health

research laboratory microscope and medicine vials

Metabolomics—the study of tiny molecules in the human body left behind by diseases and other processes—was an emerging scientific field in the 1990s when Mayo Clinic began investing in this technology and opened its first dedicated metabolomics lab.  Today, Mayo Clinic is home to a Metabolomics Core Laboratory that serves the needs of researchers and clinicians at Mayo and around the world.

Metabolomics is primarily used in medical research at Mayo Clinic to help scientists better understand and detect the causes of disease, identify new disorders, and find treatments.  However, through collaboration with other labs and clinical areas at Mayo, the metabolomics lab is also finding ways to contribute directly to patient care.

The Mayo Clinic Clinical Biochemical Genetics Laboratory and the Department of Clinical Genomics consult with scientists in the metabolomics lab to help find solutions for patients with rare diseases. By working together these disciplines can paint a more complete picture of a patient’s health, which can lead to more precise diagnoses and better treatments. “It’s a beautiful partnership between research and the clinic,” says Ian Lanza, Ph.D., director of the Metabolomics Core Laboratory. “We will do more good for patients and learn more through collaboration than we could ever do alone.” Read the rest of the article on Advancing the Science.

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