Dr Christian Ludwig

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Metabolism and Systems Science, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr Ludwig's research has two principal foci. The first is centred on the development of ultra-high-resolution methods for tracer-based metabolism analysis through the combination of orthogonal methodologies such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This part of Christian's research aims to understand the metabolic consequences of disease, and how metabolic dysfunction can drive underlying processes. Stable isotope-enriched nutrients are used to trace how they are taken into and metabolised by cells using mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and the MetaboLabPy analytical software (10.3390/metabo15010048), developed by Christian. These developments have led to high-profile publications (Angewande Chemie and Nature Communications) as senior and first author respectively, and are the basis for further step changing developments in tracer-based metabolism analysis.

The second principal focus of Dr. Ludwig's research is NMR based metabolomics. Christian develops software to facilitate and automate data analysis and biomarker detection. The application of metabolomics lead to collaborations with widespread biological areas, ranging from studying Cancer metabolism, organ preservation during hypothermic machine perfusion of human kidneys prior to transplantation, to Type 2 Diabetes and the metabolic impacts of loss of insulin sensitivity.

Scientific Inspiration

First and foremost, Prof. Richard R. Ernst, who developed Fourier Transform NMR spectroscopy enabling all experimental methods used today, not only in the field of NMR-based metabolomics and metabolism research, but also the detailed study of protein, DNA & RNA structures, dynamics, substrate binding, any many more.

Kurt Gödel is also one of my scientific heroes, because of his incompletness theorems reminding us about the limits of provability in a rule-based system.

Research Groups

Biomolecular NMR Facility

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Collaborative, student-centred, guiding

Provision of Training

In the beginning, I will be responsible for your techninacl training, such as NMR spectroscopic approaches and introduction to our analytical platform. There will also be support by my experienced PhD student. Support for wat lab oriented matters will be provided by the Co-supervisor of this project, Gabriela da Silva Xavier.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept up to date. We will have weekly meetings where we discuss progress, as well as problems and will develop strategies to overcome any stumbling blocks. We will have an official monthly supervisory meeting.

Communication

I am known to email my team/PhD students at all hours of the day and night, however I will not expect you to do the same.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be face-to-face. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

New Technological Platform for Metabolic Analysis in Health and Disease

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

New Technological Platform for Metabolic Analysis in Health and Disease

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Gabriela da Silva Xavier

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Systems Biology)

Project Outline

Eukaryotic cells have evolved into very complex structures. They contain several well-separated compartments for different tasks taking place inside the cell. Metabolism- the chemical reactions that convert food into energy- is essential for living cells, as it provides energy to keep the cell alive and functioning, as well as providing building blocks to make proteins, lipids and nucleotides. Nutrients are converted into energy and building blocks via a network of chemical reactions that occur in different cellular compartments. While metabolism can vary widely across compartments, metabolic pathways between them remain closely linked. To understand this complex network, it is important to model metabolic fluxes mathematically. One promising way to do this is through a technique called stable isotope tracing, which is as follows. By providing cells with nutrients like glucose or glutamine that are labelled with rare, stable isotopes such as carbon-13 (13C) or nitrogen-15 (15N), we can trace how these atoms are incorporated into downstream metabolites by tracking the flow of the 13C or 15N as the metabolites are processed in the cell, using 2D/3D-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Because most metabolites can be produced by multiple pathways, analysing exactly where the isotopes appear within the resultant metabolite molecule reveals which routes the cell is using. This makes it possible to reconstruct the wiring of the metabolic network, showing not just what is present in a cell but how it is being made and used.

Ultimately, we aim to develop a toolbox to study metabolic processes in great detail, which can be applied to other developing cell types in vitro. The technology developed in this proposal can be implemented together with the open-source MetaboLabPy software package (DOI: 10.3390/metabo15010048), which was developed by the PI and is freely available to researchers worldwide.