Head – Peter Meikle
Metabolomics is the systematic study of the unique metabolite (small-molecule) fingerprints of biological systems. The Metabolomics Laboratory uses “state of the art” tandem mass spectrometry to obtain metabolic profiles (primarily lipids and fats) from the blood stream and in model systems to develop new approaches to early diagnosis, risk assessment and therapeutic monitoring of cardiovascular disease.
One of Peter’s most urgent areas of work involves better understanding the difference between stable and unstable coronary disease. At present there is no way of knowing which people among a group with what we know as “stable” coronary disease will develop “unstable” disease. This is a critical area of investigation as stable disease can become unstable – leading to sudden heart attack and stroke – at any time. For many people the first sign that their disease is unstable is death, yet others live long lives with stable disease – partial blockages in the coronary arteries that do not undergo significant change.
Peter’s work in the area of metabolic profiling seeks to identify markers in the blood that might provide clues as to who is at risk of developing unstable disease. His research addresses one of the most important and mystifying areas of cardiovascular disease research and is using new and developing technologies to save lives.
Atherosclerosis is the single most common cause of cardiovascular disease and is the major contributor to the development of angina, heart attacks, coronary heart disease and stroke. The metabolic changes leading to, and resulting from, atherosclerosis are not well defined. However, changes in lipid (fat) metabolism play a central role in the disease process. Metabolic profiling is also combined with cell biology studies to investigate lipid metabolism and pathogenesis (the disease mechanism) in atherosclerosis and other disease states.
In collaboration with other research groups at Baker IDI, Peter has recently begun an investigation into the health benefits of dairy products in the diet. Specifically, research will look at the difference to health between fermented dairy products – such as cheese and yoghurt – and non-fermented dairy products, such as cream, milk and butter. It is believed that fermented dairy products in the diet result in a lower blood cholesterol level than non-fermented dairy products. The team will seek to uncover why that is the case and what are the consequences, by analysing blood lipids, and better understand the role of dairy products in a healthy diet.
The Metabolomics Laboratory will form part of an exiting new Blood and DNA Profiling Facility here at Baker IDI, incorporating the latest technology in metabolomics, proteomics, genomics, epigenomics and bioinformatics. This facility, combined with the cell and animal models, clinical databases and Bio-Banks at Baker IDI, will facilitate a range of integrated profiling studies to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and develop new diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring strategies in the areas of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.