Development of Technologies and Methods for Metabolite collection and processing

Metabolomics is an emerging field of research that provides insight into health and disease by studying the levels of various small molecules (metabolites) in the body. In this project, we are developing new tools that will improve and standardize methods for collecting and stabilizing fecal samples for metabolomics studies based on the analysis of fecal samples. Ultimate goals of the project are improved workflows for analyzing fecal samples for metabolomics studies, and kits which will permit easy home-collection of samples. The kits will also stabilize the samples at room temperature. This will provide new methods which can be used to study various diseases and/or the health of gut bacteria, or develop new diagnostic tests for identifying diseases in patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

James Harynuk

Student:

Seo Lin Nam;Kieran Tarazona

Partner:

DNA Genotek

Discipline:

Chemistry

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta