The Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital has already conducted genomics and proteomics clinical research. With this in mind, we now are integrating activities in the new Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center (SiMPC), which will provide education, training, research, and service in the fields of metabolomics and phenomics.

The science of metabolomics and phenomics is growing rapidly. Our knowledge base comprises genome, proteome, metabolome, analyses tools, and bioinformatics approaches to analyze this big data system in biology/medicine. These advances allow us to understand health and life, that is, personalized medicine, and to conduct precision medicine1 using big data analysis. The scope of diseases and research topics will focus initially on diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever, transplantation and Thai traditional medicine.

Metabolomics is the study of metabolism, specifically the science of identifying and quantifying the biochemical by-products of metabolism. By quantifying the changes taking places inside cells or body fluids at specific times and under specific environmental conditions, metabolomics offer new insights into cellular biology and a new path of research into complex diseases and their treatments2. This study is performed using advanced technologies, such as mass spectrometry, combined with sophisticated statistical methods for data interpretation. Metabolomics is connected to all other “omics” but is more time sensitive.

Phenomics uses high throughput (HT) technologies to identify and/or characterize direct products of gene-environment interactions on an individual basis, or for a group operating throughout development and life3. Phenomics uses an integrated set of global measureable physical and clinical features coupled to chemical, metabolic, and physiological properties that define biological sub-classes. Phenomics extends research to “multi-omics” study coupled with the study of systems biology/medicine leading to personalized data.

Using an integrated big data network at Siriraj Hospital will lead to the development of precision medicine and facilitate the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice for high impact diseases.

Research missions /Objectives

1. To establish the first national center for medical metabolomics and phenomics research in Thailand.
2. To establish a national research laboratory for detecting and quantiating biochemical compounds in human and animal tissues, cells, biofluids, and other related samples such as Thai medicinal herbs and herb products.
3. To develop and maintain a national database on metabolic phenotypes of Thai people and Thai medicinal herbs for facilitating new knowledge discovery and improving clinical risk assessment, prognostic, diagnostic, and treatments specific for Thai population.
4. To provide biomolecular detection laboratory service for physicians, healthcare providers, researchers within and outside of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.
5. To provide academic services including training on biomolecular detection laboratory service and research for staffs and students within and outside of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.
6. To be a core center linking Siriraj and Mahidol university research networks and private sectors for cooperation toward expansion of Thailand capability in metabolomics and phenomics research.
7. To develop research projects that address market demands (Lab2Market), have commercial applications and leads to business negotiations.