Center for Multi-Omics - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Center for Multi-Omics

a close up of scientists hands doing lab work

Ome Builders

Omics is the informal suffix for a broad, diverse group of rapidly evolving, multi-disciplinary and emerging research fields that seek to parse the particulars of biology to reveal greater truths and knowledge.

Each field probes and analyzes large amounts of data representing the structure and function of an entire makeup of a given biological system at a specific level, such as the genome (genomics) and its supporting systems (epigenomics), proteins (proteomics), small molecules (metabolomics), RNA (transcriptomics), fats (lipidomics), sugars (glycomics) and the microbiome (microbiomics). The list of active omics research fields is long and growing. 

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, we embrace the current revolution in biomedical research, including omics, and count among our faculty many scientists whose specialized interests,  talents and expertise help push our research farther, faster and deeper.

Program

An Omics Glossary

MERFISH spatial-transcriptomics technique Beginning with the process of mapping and sequencing the human genome, new technologies have made it possible to study and measure cells and tissues at molecular levels. The result has been the ability to parse in quantity and quality the underlying biology of life at resolutions previously impossible.

Over the years, as technologies have advanced, omics fields have deepened, expanded and diversified. Genomics, for example, has been joined by functional genomics, structural genomics and metagenomics.

Omics Disciplines

Other molecules, processes and phenomena have established their own omics disciplines. Principal among them:

Omics Fields

Today, there are hundreds of named or proposed omics fields, all associated with measuring specific biological molecules at minute scales. Sometimes specific disciplines are combined to create new omics fields, such as pharmacogenomics or subsets of larger omics disciplines, such as allergenomics, which is the proteomics of allergens. Other uses include describing broad research topics that use omics technologies, such as foodomics, which is a comprehensive, high-throughput approach to food and nutrition science that employs a variety of omics disciplines and sub-disciplines.

News

View All News