Metabolic Research Centre (MRC)

Mission Statement:

• To understand the role of fats (lipids) in health, ageing and disease.

Specific Research Foci:

• Influence of membrane lipid composition on cellular process i.e. Membrane Pacemaker Theory of Metabolism
• The role of membrane lipid composition in ageing i.e. Membrane Pacemaker Theory of Ageing
• Membrane properties influenced by lipid composition
• Role of polyunsaturated fat in human health, exercise, modulation of metabolic rate, ageing and diseases of metabolism
• Dietary intakes of PUFA, omega-3 status & PUFA balance in relation to health & disease
• Fatty acid metabolism throughout pregnancy

Research Capacities:

• Unique, state-of-the-art lipidomics infrastructure
• Mass spectrometry of lipid molecules
• Gas Chromatography of fatty acids, ethane & pentane
• Cell isolation techniques and measurement of enzymatic and cellular process
• Subcellular fraction isolation and reconstitution techniques
• Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled intervention trials

The History of the Metabolic Research Centre (MRC)

• Founded - circa 1997
• Very active in the area of lipids and metabolism from Basic Science to General Metabolism to Clinical Trials and Disease States
• Run seminars on Metabolic Themes over past 3 years