Abstract:
Metabolomics has emerged as a powerful component of the omics sciences, providing a direct window into the biochemical state of cells, tissues, and organisms. This lecture will begin with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of omics sciences, with a particular focus on metabolomics, its definitions, scope, and relationship to genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The central role of metabolites as functional endpoints of biological processes will be highlighted, emphasizing their importance in drug discovery, biomarker identification, and disease characterization.

An overview of the major metabolomics approaches will be presented, including targeted and untargeted strategies, as well as NMR- and mass spectrometry-based methodologies. The advantages, limitations, and typical applications of each approach will be briefly discussed to guide method selection in different research contexts. The lecture will also introduce the most widely used metabolomics databases, many of which were established and developed by Professor Wishart, with a focus on their structure, content, and growing potential to support metabolomics, systems biology, and translational research.

Selected applications of metabolomics in drug discovery will be discussed, illustrating how metabolite profiling can be used to identify drug targets, elucidate mechanisms of action, assess drug efficacy and toxicity, and accelerate lead optimization. The lecture will conclude with a perspective on emerging trends, challenges, and future directions in metabolomics-driven drug discovery, highlighting the expanding role of metabolomics in precision medicine and pharmaceutical research.

Bio:
David S. Wishart, PhD, is a Distinguished University Professor in Biological Sciences and Computing Science at the University of Alberta, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He is the founder and Co-Director of The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC), Canada’s national hub for metabolomics research. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Wishart published one of the first metabolomics papers in 1999, launched the Human Metabolome Project in 2005, and created the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) in 2006. His work has advanced the application of metabolomics to human health, exposomics, and environmental science, contributing to key resources like DrugBank, FooDB, and Exposome-Explorer.
Over the past 25 years, he has led numerous core facilities, developed over 60 multi-omics databases, and trained thousands of scientists worldwide. Dr. Wishart is also a leader in applying machine learning and AI to omics data, driving innovations in
biomarker discovery and data interpretation. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2025 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering and the 2025 ASTech Award in AI/ML & Quantum.