Specialization
I am specialized in the analytical aspects of stable isotope tracer studies.
Focus of research
My group focusses on the kinetic aspects of metabolism and determining the metabolic fate of stable isotope-labeled tracers under normal conditions, in disease, or following an intervention. Tracing metabolites in time in biological systems allows insight in the rate of metabolism of the tracer. Because the tracer follows the exact same pathway(s) as the metabolite of interest, we can determine the appearance of the tracer in time in comparison to the endogenous, non-labeled counterpart (the tracee) through mass spectrometry (MS) in a variety of sample matrices. Tracers are administered to subjects according to carefully designed protocols, and their occurrence in selected sample matrices is analyzed, either in unchanged or metabolized form. The applications of tracer protocols are numerous and very diverse, provide a unique insight into metabolism and give access to kinetic information of in vivo processes, that cannot be obtained in any other way.
For example, we have experience in studies involving: amino acid and protein metabolism, glyoxylate metabolism, sugar metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, determining the nitrogen balance, measuring energy expenditure and body composition using (doubly) labeled water and expired 13CO2 in breath analysis. We are always open to new suggestions! If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.