Visit of Cholsoon Jang

As part of the TUM Global Visiting Professor Program, Cholsoon Jang, a leading expert in metabolic research from the University of California, Irvine and a publisher in high-ranking journals Nature, Science, and Cell, visited Munich for one week. 

His stay included collaborative lab work with the P04-HyperPig team. The scientists were able to exchange details of the experimental strategy in the direct experimental setup. Jang’s recent publication, “Cross-organ metabolite production and consumption in healthy and atherogenic conditions”, explores organ-specific metabolomics and arterio-venous metabolite gradients, a topic also addressed within HyperMet. During his visit, he shared hands-on expertise in isotope tracing and metabolic flux analysis, contributing to ongoing research on inter-organ metabolic networks in cardiovascular disease and aging.

To seal the future close cooperation, a visit to the Munich Oktoberfest was mandatory. 

The final lecture provided insights into current projects of his lab, including the discovery of Nicotinic acid Riboside (NaR) as a circulating metabolite produced by the liver and processed by the kidneys. The presentation also covered the impact of high-fat/high-sucrose diets on inter-organ metabolite exchange in pig models, as well as the role of bile acids in vascular inflammation.

In the subsequent Q&A session, participants discussed publication strategies, the application of AI in metabolomics, and employment practices for PhD students and Postdocs. Concluding this informative, educational, and promising collaborative visit.

HyperMet research examines the impact of muscle growth (hypertrophy) and muscle loss (atrophy) on metabolism. Increased muscle mass reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and potentially cancer. We are exploring the underlying metabolic processes to develop new strategies for prevention and everyday life.