Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis

Abstract Individuals affected by a rare disease often experience a long and arduous diagnostic odyssey. Delivery of genetic answers in a timely manner is critical to affected individuals and their families. Multi-omics, a term which usually encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolo...

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Main Authors: Teresa Zhao, Daniella H. Hock, James Pitt, David R. Thorburn, David A. Stroud, John Christodoulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Genomic Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41525-025-00487-3
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author Teresa Zhao
Daniella H. Hock
James Pitt
David R. Thorburn
David A. Stroud
John Christodoulou
author_facet Teresa Zhao
Daniella H. Hock
James Pitt
David R. Thorburn
David A. Stroud
John Christodoulou
author_sort Teresa Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Individuals affected by a rare disease often experience a long and arduous diagnostic odyssey. Delivery of genetic answers in a timely manner is critical to affected individuals and their families. Multi-omics, a term which usually encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, has gained increasing popularity in rare disease research and diagnosis over the past decade. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique allowing the study of proteins, metabolites and lipids and their fragments at scale, enabling researchers to effectively determine the presence and abundance of thousands of molecules in a single test, accurately quantify their specific levels, identify potential therapeutic biomarkers, detect differentially expressed proteins in patients with rare diseases, and monitor disease progression and treatment response. In this review, we focus on mass spectrometry (MS)-based omics and survey the literature describing the utility of different MS-based omics and how they have transformed rare disease research and diagnosis.
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spelling doaj-art-d4b798bc043a4c3fb2b498c7a79068c42025-08-20T01:56:09ZengNature Portfolionpj Genomic Medicine2056-79442025-03-0110111310.1038/s41525-025-00487-3Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosisTeresa Zhao0Daniella H. Hock1James Pitt2David R. Thorburn3David A. Stroud4John Christodoulou5Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s HospitalAbstract Individuals affected by a rare disease often experience a long and arduous diagnostic odyssey. Delivery of genetic answers in a timely manner is critical to affected individuals and their families. Multi-omics, a term which usually encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, has gained increasing popularity in rare disease research and diagnosis over the past decade. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique allowing the study of proteins, metabolites and lipids and their fragments at scale, enabling researchers to effectively determine the presence and abundance of thousands of molecules in a single test, accurately quantify their specific levels, identify potential therapeutic biomarkers, detect differentially expressed proteins in patients with rare diseases, and monitor disease progression and treatment response. In this review, we focus on mass spectrometry (MS)-based omics and survey the literature describing the utility of different MS-based omics and how they have transformed rare disease research and diagnosis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41525-025-00487-3
spellingShingle Teresa Zhao
Daniella H. Hock
James Pitt
David R. Thorburn
David A. Stroud
John Christodoulou
Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
npj Genomic Medicine
title Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
title_full Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
title_fullStr Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
title_full_unstemmed Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
title_short Review: Utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
title_sort review utility of mass spectrometry in rare disease research and diagnosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41525-025-00487-3
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