Metabolic Biomarkers of Clinical Outcomes in Severe Mental Illness

Metabolic biomarkers are biological measures that indicate the presence of a disease, the effects of treatment, or the progression of a disease. They are a type of biological marker, or biomarker, which are objective medical signs that can be used to assess health and disease. This workstream will identify metabolomic biomarkers (small molecule metabolites found in the blood, fluids and tissues) linked to severe mental illness. 

As part of this workstream, we will be starting a study called METPSY, in which we will explore changes in mental health outcomes alongside changes in metabolic health markers over 12 months in young people.

This study will use cutting-edge techniques to measure metabolic markers, as well as remote or ambient data collection tools that will allow us to track changes in metabolic and mental health in real-world settings as participants go about their daily activities.

The METPSY study will be recruiting young adults (aged 16-25) with severe mental health conditions living in Scotland, starting in 2025. Look out for more details on how to take part in the study in the next few months!

Meet the Team

  • Professor Daniel Smith

    Professor Daniel Smith (Lead)

    Chair of Psychiatry and Head of Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Saturnino Luz

    Professor Saturnino Luz

    Professor of Digital Biomarkers and Precision Medicine, The University of Edinburgh

  • Dr Joanne Kenney

    Dr Joanne Kenney

    Research Fellow, The University of Edinburgh

  • Christina Steyn

    Christina Steyn

    Wellcome Trust Translational Neuroscience PhD Student, The University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Robert Semple

    Professor Robert Semple

    Professor of Translational Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh

  • Dr Karl Burgess

    Dr Karl Burgess

    Senior Lecturer in Biological Mass Spectrometry, The University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Rebecca Reynolds

    Professor Rebecca Reynolds

    Professor of Metabolic Medicine
    The University of Edinburgh

  • Dr Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots

    Dr Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Stephen Lawrie

    Professor Stephen Lawrie

    Professor of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh

  • Professor Stafford Lightman

    Professor Stafford Lightman

    Professor of Medicine, The University of Bristol