New human ‘Molecular Map’ offers unprecedented insight into disease mechanisms
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar have developed a comprehensive molecular map of the human body, integrating data from multiple ‘omics’ platforms to create a powerful new research tool.
A team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar (WCM-Q) has unveiled an intricate molecular map of the human body, offering unprecedented insight into the complex physiological processes that affect human health and disease. The study, published in Nature Communications on 19 August 2024, [1] represents a significant advancement in the field of multiomics research and provides a valuable resource for the scientific community.
The genesis of the molecular map
The ambitious project, led by Dr Karsten Suhre, professor of physiology and biophysics at WCM-Q, drew upon 12 years of data from the Qatar Metabolomics Study of Diabetes (QMDiab). This extensive case-control study focused on the multiethnic population of Qatar, encompassing individuals of predominantly Arab, Filipino, and Indian backgrounds.
“Our idea was to bring together everything we have learned over more than a decade of multiomics research to create a comprehensive molecular model of the human body and its processes,” explained Dr Suhre.
A multifaceted approach to data collection
The research team collected blood, urine, and saliva samples from 391 volunteers, both with and without diabetes. These samples were then analysed using 18 different high-throughput platforms, yielding an impressive 6,300 individual molecular data points for each participant.
Dr Anna Halama, assistant professor of research in physiology and biophysics and first author of the study, elaborated on the scope of the data collected: “Our integrative omics approach provides an overview of the interrelationships between different molecular traits and their association with a person’s phenotype – their observable traits, such as their physical appearance, biochemical processes and behaviours.”
The resulting dataset encompasses a wide range of molecular information, including:
- Genomic data (DNA)
- Transcriptome (RNA)
- Proteins
- Metabolites (amino acids, sugars, and fats)
- Genetic variants
- DNA methylation sites
- Gene expression profiles
From data to discovery: The Connecting Omics (COmics) tool
The wealth of information gathered through this extensive research has been integrated into a free-to-access, interactive visual web-based tool called Connecting Omics (COmics). This powerful resource allows researchers to explore the complex molecular makeup of humans and investigate underlying traits associated with various diseases.
Dr Suhre emphasised the potential impact of this tool: “This reference tool is free to access and use by researchers who want to investigate how the human body works at the molecular level and also for the formation of hypotheses to test with experimentation.”
Advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms
The multiomics approach employed in this study has already yielded valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying various diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes. By identifying and describing the proteins and metabolites that serve as signatures of different subtypes of the disease, the researchers have shed light on its diverse manifestations.
This level of molecular detail could potentially pave the way for more targeted therapeutic approaches and personalised medicine strategies in the future.
One of the key strengths of this research lies in its integrative approach. By combining data from multiple ‘omics’ platforms, the scientists were able to uncover associations and pathways linking genetic characteristics with specific proteins, metabolic processes, and diseases.
Dr Halama highlighted the scale of this integration: “The scale of the data integrated within the COmics web-tool enables access to hundreds of thousands of pathways and associations for researchers to explore, giving huge potential for discovery and investigation.”
Implications for future research
The publication of this comprehensive molecular map and the accompanying COmics tool represents a significant contribution to the scientific community. By providing free access to this wealth of data, the researchers at WCM-Q have created a valuable resource that has the potential to accelerate discoveries across a wide range of biomedical fields.
While the immediate impact of this research is primarily in the field of basic science, the long-term implications for clinical medicine could be substantial. As our understanding of the molecular basis of disease continues to grow, so too does the potential for developing more effective diagnostic tools and targeted therapies.
Reference:
- Halama, A., Zaghlool, S., Thareja, G. et al. (2024). A roadmap to the molecular human linking multiomics with population traits and diabetes subtypes. Nature Communications, 15, 7111. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51134-x