Interview with Dr. Shuang Zhao—Metabolites Exceptional Reviewer 2024
Join us as we engage with our Metabolites Exceptional Reviewer 2024, Dr. Shuang Zhao, to discuss his scholarly insights and journey as a reviewer for Metabolites (ISSN: 2218-1989).
Name: Dr. Shuang Zhao
Affiliation: The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC), Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
Interests: metabolomics; lipidomics; mass spectrometry; liquid chromatography; analytical chemistry; biomarker discovery; multi-omics
The following is an interview with Dr. Shuang Zhao:
1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and the main content of your current research?
I am a lifelong learner with a passion for developing innovative metabolomics solutions and advancing both population and personalized health through cutting-edge technologies. Currently, I serve as a senior research scientist and node manager at The Metabolomics Innovation Centre in Canada. My research is centered on developing advanced LC-MS-based metabolomics methodologies to provide an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the metabolome.
Beyond method development, a key focus of my work is making these unique and innovative technologies accessible to the broader community by translating them into robust and user-friendly assays. Looking ahead, I am particularly interested in applying these technologies to population-based studies, with the aim of driving health advancements through biomarker discovery and precision health.
2. What interdisciplinary research trends are there in your field? What impact do you think these trends have on metabolomics research?
The metabolomics field is inherently interdisciplinary, and this trend is becoming even more pronounced. From a methodological perspective, metabolomics stands at the intersection of chemistry, biomedicine, bioinformatics, and other disciplines. This fusion makes the field dynamic and filled with both exciting challenges and uncertainties. The process of integrating novel technologies and approaches from diverse disciplines into metabolomics is not only thrilling but also crucial for advancing the field.
What I find particularly fascinating is the application of these innovative technologies in various research areas. Metabolomics has become a powerful interdisciplinary tool, providing insights across domains. These applications also feed back into methodology development, driving the creation of more user-friendly tools that lower the expertise barrier, allowing broader accessibility to metabolomics for researchers from different fields.
Additionally, the rise of multi-omics integration is significantly expanding the scope and impact of metabolomics. This trend not only enhances our ability to uncover biomarkers and pathways but also strengthens the role of metabolomics in precision medicine and other emerging areas of research.
3. When and how did you first become aware of the Metabolites journal? What attracts you most about this journal?
I first became aware of Metabolites when I began my Ph.D. program in 2014. As I was starting my academic journey in metabolomics, I explored journals dedicated to this field and was fortunate to come across Metabolites. Over the years, both my colleagues and I have had the opportunity to publish our research in this journal, deepening my appreciation for its scientific impact and rigorous editorial standards.
What attracts me most to Metabolites is its open access model and its fast yet thorough review process. The journal’s commitment to making published research freely available ensures that new scientific discoveries can reach a wider audience, particularly those with limited access to academic resources. This fosters greater collaboration, drives innovation across disciplines, and promotes academic equity. Additionally, the journal’s efficient peer-review and publication process—thanks to the dedication of its editors and reviewers—helps accelerate the dissemination of high-quality research, making it an excellent platform for advancing metabolomics knowledge.
4. From the reviewer’s perspective, what specific writing skill suggestions do you have for authors when writing papers?
I would encourage authors to structure and present their manuscripts in a logical and engaging manner, incorporating both clarity and a storytelling approach. A well-organized manuscript enhances readability, making it easier for readers to follow the research flow while also strengthening its scientific impact.
A storytelling approach, when used appropriately, can make the manuscript more compelling and accessible, especially for readers who may not be experts in the exact same field. This helps broaden the reach and impact of the work.
Additionally, from a more detailed perspective, I recommend conveying information concisely and clearly. Precision in writing ensures that key messages are effectively communicated without unnecessary complexity. By combining strong structural organization with clear and concise writing, authors can produce high-quality manuscripts that effectively convey their scientific contributions.
5. Have you had any international cooperation experience in your research process? What benefits do you think international cooperation has for metabolomics research?
Yes, as a national metabolomics facility in Canada, we have had the privilege of collaborating with researchers from around the world. These collaborations allow us to develop tailored methodologies that address specific research needs while also working together to analyze data and deliver meaningful results. International cooperation, both in method development and application, brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, making the research process not only productive but also intellectually stimulating.
For instance, through collaborations with outstanding researchers in Europe, we are working to unravel the metabolic complexities of ALS, a rare neurodegenerative disease. Our joint efforts aim to enhance the understanding of its metabolic underpinnings, ultimately improving diagnosis and treatment strategies. Achieving such progress would be significantly more challenging without international collaboration, as it allows us to pool expertise, share resources, and accelerate discoveries that have global impact.
6. What is your view on the transformation and application of metabolomics research results? What challenges and opportunities do you think exist in the transformation of results at present?
Metabolomics has been widely applied across various domains, particularly in biomedical research, which is both promising and encouraging. However, despite its advancements, several challenges remain in translating metabolomics research into real-world applications.
One key challenge is the limited integration of metabolomics findings into clinical practice, particularly for disease diagnosis. While metabolomics has shown great potential for biomarker discovery, its clinical utility requires extensive validation in large, diverse population-based studies to ensure robustness and reproducibility. On the other hand, emerging technologies in high-throughput and comprehensive metabolomics analysis offer significant opportunities. These advancements are making large-scale population studies more feasible, which in turn strengthens the reliability and applicability of metabolomics discoveries. As the field continues to evolve, I believe that these innovations will accelerate the successful translation of metabolomics research into practical applications, ultimately benefiting precision medicine, diagnostics, and other fields.