Wishart Node

05/22/2026

📢 One of the most cited articles in Nucleic Acids Research!
We are excited to share that our recent publication in Nucleic Acids Research — “The Natural Products Magnetic Resonance Database (NP-MRD) for 2025” — has become one of the journal’s most-cited recent articles, highlighting its strong impact and growing relevance across the scientific community.
The NP-MRD is a freely accessible, web-based platform designed for the deposition, sharing, and retrieval of NMR data on natural products. Originally developed to support compound de-replication and data sharing, it has rapidly evolved into a major global resource now widely used across metabolomics, microbiomics, foodomics, and nutrition science.
Since its launch, the database has seen remarkable growth:
📈 ~7× increase in compounds (281,859 total)
📊 ~7× increase in NMR spectra (5.5 million total)
🔬 Millions of predicted and simulated spectra added
🌍 Major expansion in global usage and community engagement
This growth has been matched by continuous improvements in data submission tools, spectral search capabilities, and analytical support—strengthening NP-MRD as a key infrastructure for the natural products community.
We are deeply grateful to all co-authors, contributors, and users who have helped make NP-MRD a widely used and highly cited resource.

Abstract. The Natural Products Magnetic Resonance Database (NP-MRD; https://np-mrd.org) is a comprehensive, freely accessible, web-based resource for the d

04/10/2026

🔬 Now Available: Cardiovascular Metabolomic Panel
Advance cardiovascular research with targeted metabolite profiling designed to support biomarker discovery, mechanistic insights, and translational applications.
Our panel covers key metabolite classes involved in:
inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and the gut–heart axis.
🧪 Includes:
Amino acids • Biogenic amines • Tryptophan metabolites • Organic acids • Fatty acids • Lipids • More
Custom panel design is also available.
📩 Contact us to learn more or request a quote.
[email protected]

https://www.tmicwishartnode.ca/static/Cardiovascular_Panels.pdf

04/08/2026

A promising step toward more accessible metabolic monitoring 🧪🌍
A recent study describes a rapid, low-cost colorimetric multimetabolite assay for the quantitative measurement of urinary keto acids associated with phenylketonuria (PKU) and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Unlike many current approaches that are either qualitative or require specialized laboratory equipment, this method was designed to support simple, at-home monitoring with quantitative readouts in just minutes.
This kind of innovation has the potential to make a meaningful difference for individuals and families managing inborn errors of metabolism, particularly in settings where access to advanced metabolic clinics is limited. Expanding reliable, user-friendly tools for screening, detection, and dietary monitoring is an important step toward more equitable and proactive metabolic care.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41767879

Inborn errors of metabolism such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) can cause severe developmental problems. Both conditions can lead to harmful levels of keto acids in biofluids-phenylpyruvic acid (PPA) in PKU and branched-chain α-keto acids in MSUD. Monitoring urinary k...

04/07/2026

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month 💙🧠
Parkinson’s disease is often recognized only after motor symptoms appear — but by then, underlying biological changes may have been developing for years.
A recent study highlights the potential of a five-metabolite blood-based signature, combined with early non-motor symptoms, to help identify Parkinson’s disease earlier and more accurately. This work underscores how metabolomics and biomarker discovery can support earlier detection, improved risk stratification, and more personalized approaches in neurodegenerative disease.
As we recognize Parkinson’s Awareness Month, this research reinforces the importance of advancing early diagnosis, systems biology, and precision health — not only for better outcomes, but for understanding disease long before clinical symptoms emerge.
Explore more here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41565969

Parkinson's disease (PD) urgently requires blood-based markers that flag pathology before disabling motor decline. This study measured absolute concentrations of 144 plasma metabolites in 20 neurologically healthy adults and in 40 PD patients clinically classified as intermediate (PD-I) or progressi...

03/27/2026

We are proud to share a groundbreaking study published in Nature, introducing DeepMet — a chemical language model designed to anticipate and discover previously uncharacterized mammalian metabolites.
A long-standing challenge in metabolomics is that while mass spectrometry can detect thousands of molecular signals, the majority remain unidentified. DeepMet helps bridge this gap by applying powerful language model principles — previously used in genomics and proteomics — to small molecule metabolism.
🔬 Key highlights:
🧠 Trained on known metabolite structures as a chemical language model
🔗 Integrated with mass spectrometry-based metabolomics data
🧬 Revealed dozens of novel mammalian metabolites
🌐 A major step forward in mapping the full mammalian metabolome
This work highlights the growing impact of computational approaches in advancing metabolomics research and discovery.
📄 Language model-guided anticipation and discovery of mammalian metabolites
Nature · 2026
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09969-x

Despite decades of study, large parts of the mammalian metabolome remain unexplored1. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics routinely detects thousands of small molecule-associated peaks in human tissues and biofluids, but typically only a small fraction of these can be identified, and str...

02/25/2026

New research identifies five blood metabolites that can be used to distinguish healthy adults from people with early and progressive Parkinson’s disease. When combined with early non-motor symptoms such as drooling, REM behavior disorder, and depression, the results more clearly track disease stages and reflect systemic changes in gut signaling, mitochondrial function, and lipid balance. Congratulation to the authors!
Read the article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-36756-z

Parkinson’s disease (PD) urgently requires blood-based markers that flag pathology before disabling motor decline. This study measured absolute concentrations of 144 plasma metabolites in 20 neurologically healthy adults and in 40 PD patients clinically classified as intermediate (PD-I) or progres...

11/12/2025

Each year, the University of Alberta celebrates excellence in teaching, learning, and research at Celebrate!
Join us in recognizing Dr. Wishart, whose exceptional achievements and dedication to discovery have earned the university’s highest honour — the University Cup.
🎥 Watch now to learn more about Dr. Wishart’s impact and contributions:

Each year, the University of Alberta honours the achievements of our faculty, students and staff at Celebrate! Teaching.Learning.Research. We celebrate the m...

10/30/2025

We are proud to share that Dr.David S. Wishart our visionary leader, has been awarded Canada’s highest scientific honour: the 2025 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Dr. Wishart’s pioneering work in metabolomics is transforming the way we detect and treat diseases. Through his dedication to making science open, accessible, and impactful, he is leading the charge toward a new era of personalized medicine, precision nutrition, and sustainable environmental health. His breakthroughs promise a future where diseases are detected earlier, treatments are more precise, and the complex chemical world becomes understandable and meaningful to all.
This award reflects not only Dr. Wishart’s extraordinary vision and expertise but also the culture of innovation and collaboration he fosters in our team every day. We are honoured to follow his leadership and contribute to this remarkable journey.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wishart on this outstanding achievement! 👏

10/10/2025

👏 Celebrating Dr. David Wishart, recipient of the 2025 University Cup — ’s highest academic award.
A pioneer in metabolomics, passionate mentor, and global leader in open science. This recognition is truly well deserved.

These outstanding individuals have demonstrated excellence as faculty and have made significant contributions that positively impact the U of A community.