biocrates blog
Applications of metabolomics
2025 at biocrates – A year shaped by 5P medicine
2025 was a year shaped by 5P medicine for biocrates. From the evolution of our scientific content to new product highlights and our integration into the Biognosys Group, this year demonstrated how metabolomics brings the five pillars of modern medicine – preventive, predictive, precision, population-based, and participatory – to life.
Homovanillic acid – a major dopamine metabolite
Homovanillic acid (HVA) is a monocarboxylic acid best known for its role as a major dopamine metabolite.
p-cresol glucuronide – detoxicant or uremic toxin?
p-cresol glucuronide (pCG) is a liver-derived conjugate of the gut microbial metabolite p-cresol, excreted via the kidneys, and it reflects gut-microbiome activity in blood and urine.
Peroxisome biogenesis disorders and the lipidome
Explore how disruptions in peroxisomal lipid metabolism drive disease phenotypes and how lipidomics can reveal early biomarkers of rare disorders.
cAMP – a currency of cell signaling
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a universal second messenger which translates extracellular cues into cellular responses regulating metabolism, gene expression, neurobiology, and immunity. Dysregulated cAMP signaling contributes to cancer, inflammation, and neurological disorders, making it a key target in precision medicine.
Energy metabolism in cancer – Mechanisms, plasticity and applications
Cancer cells rely on altered energy metabolism to fuel growth. See how metabolomics sheds light on these changes and their impact on tumor progression and therapy.
Bilirubin – from waste pigment to regulatory metabolite
Bilirubin reduces oxidative stress, supports liver and cardiovascular functions, and protects against inflammation-related health conditions.
Itaconic acid – from immune defense to a target in chronic disease
Itaconic acid shapes immune responses, affects the gut microbiome, and may influence cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, and cancer outcomes.
Participatory medicine – Transform medicine with metabolomics – part 5 of 5
In this five-part blog series, Alice Limonciel explores the role of metabolomics in 5P medicine. In this final article of our 5P medicine series, we explore how metabolomics empowers participatory medicine by enabling patients to collect meaningful health data from home. Learn how at-home microsampling devices expand access to testing, why analyte stability and reference ranges are critical for reliable interpretation, and how these tools can bring omics-driven healthcare to remote and underserved populations.
Methylmalonic acid – key marker of vitamin B12 status and metabolism
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a key biomarker of vitamin B12 deficiency and plays a central role in energy metabolism.