This course will provide an introduction to metabolomics through lectures and hands-on sessions, using publicly available data, software, and tools. Participants will become familiar with the current state of experimental design, data acquisition (LC-MS, MS imaging), processing, and modelling. In addition, they will learn about community standards and sharing in metabolomics, particularly through using the EMBL-EBI’s MetaboLights repository and Galaxy infrastructure. Participants will learn through hands-on tutorials to use tools available for data analysis and data submission. Additionally, case studies will be used to discuss and show how to employ the week’s learning.

In-person course

We plan to deliver this course in an in-person manner onsite at our training suite at EMBL-EBI, Hinxton.  Please be aware that we are continually evaluating the ongoing pandemic situation and, as such, may need to change the format of courses at short notice. Your safety is paramount to us; you can read our COVID guidance policy for more information. All information is correct at time of publishing.

Additional information

The course fee is inclusive of three nights' accommodation and catering, including dinner.

Please note that we will operate this course face-to-face at EMBL-EBI, Hinxton. Hybrid options are not currently available. We reserve the right to change the format of this course or cancel it, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Please also note that there are delays in the issuing of visas from the UK Government. We encourage you to check if you need a visa and apply in plenty of time before travelling. Current waiting times are more than six weeks. For more information please visit the UK Government website.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at researchers who are new to the field of metabolomics and wish to learn about the process of conducting a metabolomics study. Attendees will gain an understanding of a standardised workflow, from experimental design to data acquisition and analysis. The course will benefit those who are planning to integrate metabolomics into their work, either moving into the field or as an investigator from other omics. We will primarily focus on a basic introduction to metabolomics with worked examples using a predesigned LC-MS analysis workflow. The course assumes little prior knowledge of using bioinformatics tools.

What will I learn?

Learning outcomes

After the course you should be able to:

• Discuss basic data acquisition, processing, and modelling in metabolomics 
• Estimate what factors contribute to designing a successful metabolomics study
• Describe the issues of data standards and sharing in metabolomics
• Access and use public metabolomics resources 
• Be familiar with the principles of creating a standardised workflow to perform basic metabolomics analysis

Course content

During this course you will learn about: 

• Basic metabolomics experimental design, acquisition, and analysis
• Public metabolomics resources: MetaboLights, Galaxy 
• Open source metabolomics tools made available through customisable workflows
• Case study based on a published/public example

Trainers

Please submit all documents during the application process by midnight on 4 January 2023. The EMBL-EBI office will be closed over the winter holiday season between 22 December 2022 and 2 January 2023. If possible, we encourage you to submit your application prior to this closure period.  This will ensure our dedicated support team can help you, should you need it. 

Please read our page on application support before starting your application. In order to be considered for a place on this course, you must do the following:

• Complete the online application form.
• Ensure you add relevant information to the ‘submission details’ section where you are asked to provide information on your:
  • pre-requisite skills and knowledge
  • current work and course expectations
  • data availability
• Upload one letter of support from your supervisor or a senior colleague detailing reasons why you should be selected for the course.

Items marked * in the application are mandatory. Incomplete registrations will not be processed. 

All applicants will be informed of the status of their application (successful, waiting list, unsuccessful) by 27 January 2023. If you have any questions regarding the application process please contact Jane Reynolds.

The registration fee of £660.00 includes:

• Catering as detailed on the course programme
• Accommodation for three nights (28, 29, and 30 March)
• Bespoke course handbook with links to all course materials
• Use of a computer in the EMBL-EBI training suite throughout the course
• Shuttle bus on the final course day to Cambridge train station

Accommodation 

Hotel rooms (including breakfast) will be provided at Hinxton Hall. Please contact them directly if you wish to arrange to stay additional nights around the course dates.

Catering

The course includes catering as detailed on the programme tab. Successful applicants will be asked for any dietary requirements and allergies upon registration. 

Course materials

The course materials from the 2022 edition of the course are now live and available for you to use. They provide a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, presentations, and practicals from the course, and will give you a snapshot of what to expect in the 2023 edition.

Posters

All participants are expected to present a poster that will be displayed during the course outside the training room. Successful applicants will be asked to submit their poster upon registration. We will print these for you and have them available when you arrive on site.

All posters should:

•         Be A2 in size – 420mm x 594mm
•         Be in a portrait orientation
•         Include your photograph and contact information

We expect the posters to act as a talking point between you, other participants, and the trainers on the course. The posters will be displayed throughout the week so people can view them during breaks and lunch. They should give the reader an idea of the work you are engaged in, what you are planning to do next, and anything of interest that might be useful for sharing with the gathered participants.