Towards quantitative metabolic imaging for precision medicine
Metabolism provides a direct, integrative readout of cellular state, capturing genetic background, microenvironmental influences and therapeutic response in real time. However, despite its central role in biology and disease, it remains largely underused in clinical decision-making due to the lack of quantitative, non-invasive and scalable measurement tools.
Our research aims to establish magnetic resonance (MR)-based metabolic imaging as a rigorous and clinically actionable framework. The central premise is that metabolic flux (rather than static metabolite levels) defines functional cellular states, enabling the detection of early disease processes, therapeutic response and adaptive resistance. By capturing dynamic metabolic plasticity, this approach provides a complementary layer to genomics and transcriptomics, with direct relevance for precision medicine.
You can find a list of our papers here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hfQez4MAAAAJ&hl=ca
RESEARCH PROGRAMME
RESEARCH PROGRAM
Our programme is structured around three interconnected research lines:
1 | ENABLE: Building quantitative MR platforms platforms for metabolic interrogation in advanced biological systems
We develop integrated experimental systems that combine MR methodologies with microfluidics, organ-on-chip models and tailored hardware. These platforms enable non-invasive, dynamic and quantitative metabolic measurements in advanced cellular environments that are otherwise inaccessible.
2 | REVEAL: Identifying metabolic biomarkers in disease and therapy response
We investigate how alterations in metabolic flux relate to disease progression and treatment response. Using multi-scale models and multimodal validation, we identify mechanistically grounded metabolic signatures with predictive potential.
3 | VALIDATE: Translating to clinical and industrial impact
We assess the robustness, reproducibility and predictive value of MR-derived metabolic metrics across systems and scales. The goal is to qualify metabolic imaging as a decision-support tool for clinical practice and drug development.
OVERALL VISION
By integrating physics, chemistry, engineering and metabolic biology, our work establishes quantitative metabolic imaging as a new functional axis for disease characterisation and therapeutic stratification. The long-term objective is to transition metabolic imaging from an experimental capability to a validated, decision-relevant modality in precision medicine.
Selected Completed Projects
Our Methods
Hyperpolarised NMR (HP-NMR)
At the forefront of molecular imaging, our team specializes in hyperpolarized MR techniques, which amplify NMR signals over 10,000 times. This advancement allows real-time, non-invasive observation of molecular processes within a broad spectrum of biological systems, offering unprecedented insights into dynamic biological phenomena in real time. In our group we work with two HP methods: dissolution Dynamic nuclear polarization (dDDNP) and Parahydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP).
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Building upon the established clinical utility of MR imaging (MRI) for non-destructive tissue analysis, our work extends to MR spectroscopic imaging, which offers chemical specificity. This enables direct correlation between chemical compounds and biological events across various biological samples, including biofluids, cells, tissues, animal models, and clinical patients.
Microfluidic Platforms
Microfluidic platforms, especially lab-on-a-chip devices, are revolutionizing the study of metabolism in disease by offering a compact and efficient means to analyze biological samples. These chips integrate intricate networks of microchannels and chambers, allowing for precise control and manipulation of small fluid volumes. A significant advantage of these platforms is their ability to accommodate multiple samples simultaneously for a single measurement, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This unique design not only enhances throughput and reduces sample consumption but also enables high-resolution and multiplexed metabolic analysis. Consequently, microfluidic chips are becoming indispensable tools in biomedical research, providing valuable insights into disease mechanisms and facilitating the identification of metabolic biomarkers.
Metabolomics
Metabolomics is the comprehensive study of metabolites, the small molecules involved in metabolic processes within a biological system. Analysis of metabolites using NMR spectroscopy reveals insights into the biochemical activities occurring in cells, tissues, or organisms. This field is particularly useful for biomarker identification associated with particular diseases. Identifying these biomarkers can improve disease diagnosis, prognosis, and the development of personalized treatment strategies.
Computer Modelling of Biological Systems
By using the law of mass action, it is possible to model different cellular processes in a deterministic manner, and hence, describe these systems at a population level. These models can describe a wide range of processes, from gene expression and regulation to enzyme kinetics and particles movements thanks to membrane transporters.