Lipidomics
The BMSS LIPIDOMICS SIG
Next Event: The second lipidomics SIG meeting will take place at the Gordon Museum of Pathology, King’s College London on the 8th of July 2026. Please click here for more details.
The BMSS Lipidomics Special Interest Group (BMSS Lipidomics SIG) started in January 2021 with a four year programme. The aim is to provide ECR training and a forum for discussion of mass spectrometry based Lipidomics includes the study of lipid subclass profiling, structure elucidation, bioinformatics tools for analysis of large datasets, and the translation of lipid data into biological meaning (biosynthetic metabolic pathway analysis) of the different categories of lipids as dictated in the classification/nomenclature proposed by the LIPID MAPS® Lipidomics gateway consortium.
Principles and Aims
Mass spectrometry is at the core of lipidomics research. Lipidomics focuses on quantitatively profiling lipids in vivo and interpreting the results in a biological and/or medical context. The BMSS Lipidomics SIG intend to include MS fundamentals e.g. elucidation of lipid structure, double bond position (within the acyl chain), oxidation, and acyl chain composition of complex lipids. The lipidomics research requires relative and/or absolute quantitation of lipids typically with a "before" and "after" sample comparison. Comparison of hundreds of lipid species is challenging. The BMSS Lipidomics SIG will bring together bioinformaticians and statisticians to highlight how significant differences may be safely inferred in such complex data sets.
Lipidomics lacks training opportunities, guidelines for best practice in the collection of experimental data, interpretation, and reporting. The BMSS Lipidomics SIG aims to address these urgent unmet needs. We also intend to host a forum for the dissemination of the latest research in the field and foster further collaboration and networking amongst our community.
Early Career Scientist Inclusion
The BMSS Lipidomics SIG has a resolute commitment to welcoming Early Career Scientists (ECSs) to its activities & meetings . The BMSS Lipidomics SIG invites all ECSs to actively participate in the group’s events.
Lipidomics SIG Meetings
The BMSS Lipidomics SIG meetings was established in 2021, with 33 virtual meetings held in 2021 and 2022 accessible to UK and international delegates. Since 2021 lipidomics and metabolomics have a dedicated session at the annual BMSS meetings. In 2024 the lipidomics SIG organised a hands-on workshop in lipid analysis/quantitation and biological interpretation as part of the BMSS annual meeting. Lipidomics SIG meetings have moved from virtual to in-person in 2025. The inaugural in-person meeting was hosted at the University of Cardiff in partnership with the LIPID MAPS®.
BMSS Lipidomics SIG Meeting Format
The lipidomics SIG host an annual 1 day meeting. The meeting focus will change year on year and will be defined by the BMSS Lipidomics SIG team in consultation with the community. Lipidomics topics will vary from background theory, introduction to specific instrumentation, software tools, best practice in lipid analysis, lipid categories, lipids in health and disease.
The aim of the meeting is to is to bring the lipidomics community together, to learn about latest research from leaders in the field and to give students and ECRs an opportunity to present their work in an amicable and enabling environment.
Join Our Mailing List
We warmly invite all BMSS members and the ‘international mass spectrometry community at large’ to join the BMSS Lipidomics SIG. Please click here to join our mailing list and keep up-to-date with our meetings.
Help Us Spread The Word
Please help us to bring our new BMSS Lipidomics SIG to the attention of colleagues around the world. We welcome the participation of ALL colleagues with an interest in lipidomics.
BMSS Lipidomics SIG Co-Leader Contact Details:
Both of the founding coordinators of the BMSS Lipidomics SIG are active researchers working in mass spectrometry based lipidomics:
- Andrea Lopez (CRUK-Cambridge Institute-Cambridge University): andrea.lopezclavijo@cruk.cam.ac.uk
- Christine Hinz (ThermoFisher): Christine.hinz@thermofisher.com
Acknowledgments
The BMSS Lipidomics SIG coordinators gratefully acknowledge the support of multiple colleagues from LIPID MAPS®: https://www.lipidmaps.org/.
