Toward large-scale mass spectrometry-based omics for clinical applications

As healthcare advances toward personalized medicine, mass spectrometry-based research is advancing our understanding of cellular biology and disease states, and translating these findings into clinical applications. This review highlights recent advances in methodology and technology that demonstrate the capabilities of mass spectrometry-based proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics in clinical practice.

The ability to directly analyze functional molecules with mass spectrometry uncovers crucial clinical information. Each data modality (proteins, lipids, and metabolites) provides essential insight into healthy and disease states. As technology advances, integrating data from different modalities unlocks new possibilities for clinical research. To gain the most from this multi-omic data, unsupervised integration methods can provide detailed insights into complex biological processes. As the field applies this knowledge, healthcare could experience significant leaps in the near future. This review examines recent advancements in mass spectrometry-based proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics, focusing on how improvements in sample preparation, automation, and multi-omics data integration are making large-scale clinical studies more accessible.

Recent technical and methodological advancements in mass spectrometry analysis have propelled healthcare toward a tipping point, shifting from traditional RNA- and DNA-based research to downstream analysis of protein, lipid, and metabolite effectors.