Cellular energy metabolism; use of OMICs to unravel molecules involved in cellular crosstalk and drug targeting in the context of lifestyle and age-related diseases

Contact person: Eili Tranheim Kase     
Keywords: OMICs, Energy metabolism, Age-related metabolic diseases, Cellular crosstalk, Drug targeting, 
Research group: MetHealth research group
Department of Pharmacy

The use of OMICs (proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and lipidomics) and bioinformatics is vital to investigate molecules and molecular mechanisms in crosstalk between cell types/organs to better understand the context of lifestyle and age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. 

Research within this theme could unravel:

  • Which signaling molecules and possible new drug targets is involved in complex communication between various cell types in healthy and diseased states, 
  • How these mechanisms are affected by marketed and potential new drugs or by lifestyle changes and 
  • New target molecules for drug development.

Methodological research topics:

  • Analyze gene expression from high throughput RNA sequencing and microarrays to understand which genes are activated or deactivated in biological systems.
  • Study the expression, structure and functions proteins in a cell system by proteomics and phosphoproteomics. This can include quantitative analysis and post-translational modifications.
  • Pathway and network analysis of proteomics/phosphoproteomics/trancriptomics.
  • Utilize machine learning to develop algorithms and models for predicting correlations between data from different type of omics.
  • Use available data sets from omics to develop analysis and presentation options that are more accessible to people without bioinformatic background.

External partners:  

  • Norwegian Sequencing Centre
  • Proteomic facility (OUH)
  • Norwegian Imaging Consortium (NorMic)
  • In-house competence on bioinformatics (Trine Rounge, Osman Gani)
  • Center for bioinformatics.