Unit for Molecular Quantification and Caracterization (UCA-CCM)
The Central Support Unit for Molecular Quantification and Characterization (UCA-CCM) was created in 2014 thanks to a public call for infrastructures from the Carlos III Health Institute for accredited Health Research Institutes. The mission of the unit is to provide advice and analytical support to all members of IRYCIS and its Hospital in research and assistance activities that require the application of chromatographic techniques (gas chromatography or liquid chromatography), in combination with traditional detectors (UV/Vis, fluorimetry, electrochemistry, radioactivity), or in combination with methods of detection by mass spectrometry (triple quadrupole, single quadrupole or MALDI-TOF). The unit has a portfolio of services specialized in lipidomics.
Our goals are:
- To develop robust quantitative strategies that allow the massive quantification of molecular species of lipids (lipidomic) in different samples.
- Apply these methodologies to the study of lipid metabolism.
- To transfer methodological and metabolic knowledge related to lipids to the resolution of clinical problems.
Óscar Pastor Rojo, PhD
Principal investigatorSpecialist in mass spectrometry based lipidomics.
Clinical Biochemistry service facultative at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid.
What is lipidomics?
Since the appearance of the term genomics in the mid-1980s, a number of different “omics” have been emerging in the field of biology. The metabolomics is one of them, and tries to quantify and characterize all the metabolites present in a biological system, as well as their interrelation with their regulatory factors (proteins, RNAs, genes). The extreme variety of metabolites present in a cell or tissue makes it impossible to approach all metabolites quantitatively with a single methodological approach and for this reason lipidomics can be defined as a branch of the metabolomics specialised in the study of lipids. Like all omics, the lipidomics avoids a reductionist vision when studying biological phenomena. In other words, in contrast to studies in which a prior hypothesis is put forward on the involvement of a reduced number of variables, in this case lipids, in a process (studies of directed hypotheses, also known as “targeted”), the capacity of the lipidomics to quantify a high number of lipids makes it possible to understand integrally the functioning of the biological processes studied and the generation of new working hypotheses.
“The molecular characterization of lipids in a biological system, as well as their function and study their relationship with the expression of enzymes and proteins involved in their metabolism and gene regulation.”
(Spener, F. y col. Editorial: What is lipidomics (Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. (2003))
What areas of research do we work in?
Lipidomics research achievements
Our portfolio of services
Our group in the press
Do you want to apply lipidomics to your projects?
If you are working on a project and want to complete your results with the lipidomic data, need our advice, analytical support or want to collaborate on one of our active projects, do not hesitate to contact us.
Do you want to train in the field of lipidomics?
If you are interested in starting your career in the field of metabolomics, learning how to operate mass spectrometry equipment and perform lipidomics, make a stay in our laboratories as an assistant, develop your final project / master’s degree / thesis with us, do not hesitate to contact us.
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