Proceedings of the Summer Institute on Symptoms and Omics.

Abstract

Metabolomics, a relatively recent field of research, offers nurse scientists a powerful new way to investigate physiologic pathways underlying health and disease and identify a biological basis for symptoms or health risks, as is consistent with nursing’s focus. Metabolomics methods are particularly useful because the metabolome is the final downstream product of gene transcription and the closest to the phenotype of the entire biological system (Harrigan & Goodacre, 2003). Another advantage of metabolomics methods, compared to other omics methods, is that changes in the metabolome are frequently amplified relative to changes at the level of the genome, transcriptome, and proteome (Harrigan & Goodacre, 2003). Despite its potential, metabolomics is currently underutilized by nurse researchers. A recent scoping literature review presented by Laura Kimble, PhD, RN, FNP-C, FAAN, Clinical Professor at Emory University School of Nursing and Nicole Carlson, PhD, CNM, Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Nursing (Kimble et al., 2020) suggests that while uptake is emerging, the current state of nursing science still reflects a scarcity of nurse scientists with an established program of metabolomics research. The Emory School of Nursing P30 Center for the Study of Symptom Science, Metabolomics, and Multiple Chronic Conditions (P30NR018090) is dedicated to supporting the conduct of research to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with symptoms of fatigue, depression, and anxiety in African Americans with multiple chronic conditions. The center is based on a novel metabolomics framework developed by one of the center’s founders, Elizabeth Corwin, PhD, FNP-BC, now Vice Dean of Strategic and Innovative Research at Columbia University School of Nursing, to study symptoms in persons with multiple chronic conditions. This theoretical framework posits that tissue injury in individuals with multiple chronic conditions may activate metabolic pathways initiating symptoms and/or clusters of symptoms, and that a variety of covariates (i.e., clinical characteristics, sex, stress) may influence this effect (Corwin et al., 2021). The model focuses on specific symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and anxiety, all of which are known to accompany chronic conditions and impact health-related quality of life (Corwin et al., 2021). To increase exposure of nurse researchers to metabolomics methods, the Center launched its first annual Summer Institute on Symptoms and Omics (SISO), May 13–14, 2021, to describe how metabolomics methods can improve symptom science research and introduce researchers to basic metabolomics methods (www.sisoconference.com). This article presents highlights of the virtual event.