RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC. (April 20, 2009) —
Metabolon, Inc., the leader in metabolomics-driven biomarker discovery and analysis, today announced the launch of the Metabolomics
Research Grant program. The program, designed to help promote and expand metabolomics as a tool for academic and government investigators,
offers grants to qualified institutions to conduct global biochemical profiling (metabolomics) studies. These studies provide mechanistic
insight into a variety of complex biological systems.
As one of the first Metabolon grant recipients, Bhanu Chandra Mulukutla, with the University of Minnesota, will leverage the global
profiling study to investigate cellular biochemical changes in biopharmaceutical production. "This metabolomic approach will immensely
compliment our proteomic and transcriptomic studies in probing for the changes between different metabolic states observed in mammalian cell
culture processes. We hope that this integrated omics approach will allow us to identify cues which might be responsible for switching the
cells between these different metabolic states that effect productivity of recombinant antibodies."
Metabolon will regularly select studies for the grant program based on the scientific merit and impact of the proposed study. The grant can
be applied toward Metabolon's mView metabolomics service and will cover some or all of the cost of the service. Studies which are ideal for
the program are designed to investigate the biochemical changes in a complex biological system by comparing relative changes in concentrations
between two groups, control vs. treated, normal vs. disease, wild-type vs. knock-out, or a time course.
The mView analysis results in the identification of hundreds of biochemicals in a sample, including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids,
cofactors, nucleosides, and other metabolites. Using statistical analysis to compare groups, it is possible to quickly pinpoint biochemical
perturbations related to the experiment—be it a drug, a disease state, a dietary change, or other experimental variable.
John Ryals, chief executive at Metabolon, offered insight into the foundation of the program. "We had originally launched our sponsored
research program with the intention of selecting one winner of a free global biochemical profiling study. Our team was so impressed with the
caliber of research being conducted and at the utility we could provide to that research, that we created the Metabolon Sponsored Research
program. We are pleased to be able to continue our investment in the academic community."
Organizations selected to participate in the inaugural round of the program include the University of Oxford, University at Buffalo, Cancer
Research UK and the University of Minnesota.
To learn more about the Metabolon Sponsored Research program and the company's mView services, please visit
www.metabolon.com/GrantProgram.
About Metabolon
Metabolon is a diagnostics and services company offering the industry's leading biochemical profiling platform. Metabolon's patented
platform provides a global analysis of complex biological samples for the discovery of markers and pathways associated with drug action and
disease. This metabolomics-driven approach enables the identification of biomarkers useful for the development of a wide range of diagnostics
and provides insight into complex biochemical processes such as drug action, toxicology and bioprocess optimization. For more information
about Metabolon, please visit www.metabolon.com.