Susan J. Sumner, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Pharmacology
Susan Sumner, PhD is a Professor of Nutrition at UNC Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI), and the Director of the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (MEL) at UNC Chapel Hill. Dr. Sumner is working to make personalized medicine and precision nutrition a reality. Using state-of-the-art metabolomics and exposome technologies, Dr. Sumner’s team determines how molecules that are present in our tissues and biological fluids are associated with states of health and wellness. Through this approach, biomarkers are discovered that can lead to new diagnostics for the early detection and diagnosis of disease, to monitor treatment and intervention, and to inform the development of intervention strategies.
The Sumner-Lab uses analytical methods to detect tens of thousands of signals for molecules that are present in biological specimens (such as urine, serum, plasma, feces, sweat, tissues, and cells). Using untargeted metabolomics, signals are detected for metabolites that are derived from endogenous metabolic process, such as neurotransmitters, hormones and steroids, sugars, amino acids, purines and pyrimidines, lipids, fatty acids, and vitamins and essential nutrients. Signals are also detected for metabolites derived from a wide range of exposures, including metabolites derived from ingestion of foods, intake of medications or drugs of abuse, and environmentally relevant
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Sumner’s Team



Blake R. Rushing, PhD
Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Sumner Lab
blake_rushing@unc.edu
704-250-5089








Molly Seelinger
Research Technician
molly_seelinger@unc.edu
704-250-5067



The North Carolina Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource Hub (NC HHEAR Hub)
Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (MEL) for the following NIH Centers
Nutritional Pharmacology/Toxicology
Choline and Related Metabolites in Nutrition Research
Metabolomics: Using In Vitro Models to Reveal Mechanisms of Cellular Response
Recent Grants Supported by the Metabolomics and Exposome Laboratory (MEL)
R01HL143885 (Sumner, MPI, UNC-CH): 2019–2023
NHLBI
Leveraging multi-omics approaches to examine metabolic challenges of obesity in relation to cardiovascular diseases.
1U01CA235507 (Du, PI, UNC-Charlotte): 2018–2022
NCI
Cross-Platform and Graphical Software Tool for Adaptive LC/MS and GC/MS Metabolomics Data Preprocessing
1R37CA226969-01 (Bae-Jump, PI, UNC-CH): 2018–2023
NCI
Obesity-driven Metabolic and Molecular Biomarkers of Metformin Response in Endometrial Cancer
1R21CA235029-01 (Smith-Ryan & Bae-Jump, MPI, UNC Chapel Hill): 2019–2020
NCI
Interval Exercise Training as a Therapy for Endometrial Cancer
1U01OH011300-01A1 (Nolan, PI, NYUSOM): 2017– 2023
NIOSH
Metabolomics of World Trade Center-Lung Injury
1R01DK115380-01 (Zeisel, PI, UNC Chapel Hill): 2017- 2021
NIDDK
Developing a Biomarker Panel to Assess Choline Nutritional Status
U01ES027254 (Sumner, MPI, UNC Chapel Hill): 2016–2021
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Early-life END exposure and the impact on neurobehavioral, cardiovascular, and biochemical mechanisms.
5UG3OD023275 (Karagas, PI, Dartmouth College): 2016-2023
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Influences of Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Pediatrics Cohort
New Hampshire Birth Cohort
5UG3OD023305 (Trasande, PI, NYU School of Medicine): 2016-2023
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Influences of Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Pediatrics Cohort
NYU Pediatric Obesity, Metabolism and Kidney Cohort Center
R01DK110077 (Smoyer, PI, Nationwide Children’s Hospital) 2017-2022
NIDDK
Integrating Proteomics and Metabolomics to Understand Pediatric Glomerular Disease
1R21HD087878-01A1 (Harville, PI, Tulane): 2017-2019
NICHD
Preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, and the exposome
Publications
2022
Multimodal Diagnostic Approaches to Advance Precision Medicine in Sarcopenia and Frailty
Sex-Specific Metabolic Effects of Dietary Folate Withdrawal in Wild-Type and Aldh1l1 Knockout Mice
Dietary Supplements for Athletic Performance in Women: Beta-Alanine, Caffeine, and Nitrate
Multi-Omics Analysis of Multiple Glucose-Sensing Receptor Systems in Yeast.
2021
Emerging technologies and their impact on regulatory science
Bridging the Gap Between Analytical and Microbial Sciences in Microbiome Research
Associations between the gut microbiome and metabolome in early life
Multi-omics analysis of glucose-mediated signaling by a moonlighting Gβ protein Asc1/RACK1
Metabolic Response of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer to Folate Restriction
Metabolomics reveals biomarkers of opioid use disorder
Existing antiviral options against SARS-CoV-2 replication in COVID-19 patients
2020
Effects of Aldh1l2 Knockout on the Metabolic Profile of Mouse Liver.
Analysis of NMR Metabolomics Data.
Metabolomics Data Preprocessing Using ADAP and MZmine 2.
2019
Predicting and Defining Steroid Resistance in Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome Using Plasma Proteomics.
Cytosolic 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase regulates glycine metabolism in mouse liver.
Deleterious mutations in ALDH1L2 suggest a novel cause for neuro-ichthyotic syndrome.
Health-related quality of life in glomerular disease.
Human PAH is characterized by a pattern of lipid-related insulin resistance.
Metabolomics for Biomarker Discovery and to Derive Genetics Links to Disease.
2018
Antibiotic-induced acceleration of type 1 diabetes alters maturation of innate intestinal immunity.
Correlated metabolomic, genomic, and histologic phenotypes in histologically normal breast tissue.
Using Metabolomics to Investigate Biomarkers of Drug Addiction.
Human microbiota, blood group antigens, and disease.
Effect of endotoxin and alum adjuvant vaccine on peanut allergy.
2017
Neonatal Metabolomic Profiles Related to Prenatal Arsenic Exposure.
Systems biology for organotypic cell cultures.
2016
Antibiotic-mediated gut microbiome perturbation accelerates development of type 1 diabetes in mice.
Metabolomics enables precision medicine: “A White Paper, Community Perspective”.
Impact of a western diet on the ovarian and serum metabolome.
Blood type biochemistry and human disease.
The Importance of the Biological Impact of Exposure to the Concept of the Exposome.