Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Metabolism Call for Enhanced Measurement Technologies to Address Global Crises
In a landmark gathering this October, the 6th Recent Advances and Controversies in the Measurement of Energy Metabolism (RACMEM) conference convened in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, marking a pivotal moment for the global scientific community engaged in understanding biological energy dynamics. This assembly, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and orchestrated by the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), drew 221 experts representing 21 countries from diverse disciplines including physiology, clinical science, environmental studies, and quantitative biology.
Energy metabolism, the ensemble of biochemical reactions that converts nutrients into usable energy within living systems, is foundational to life. It dictates not only how organisms survive and function but also how they adapt to and influence ecological and physiological environments. Advances in metabolism measurement are thus critical. However, as highlighted at the conference, existing technologies remain insufficiently precise and standardized, limiting researchers’ ability to parse complex regulatory networks governing energy homeostasis and metabolic flexibility across species and conditions.
The delegates emphasized that innovative and highly sensitive metabolic assessment methods are urgently required to unravel the multifaceted interactions modulating energy expenditure. For example, the regulatory pathways controlling brown adipose tissue thermogenesis—a process by which energy is dissipated as heat—remain incompletely understood due to technical challenges in quantifying tissue-specific metabolic rates dynamically and non-invasively. Insights into such mechanisms could illuminate new therapeutic avenues for metabolic disorders and obesity.
Another focal point was the intricate influence of ambient and core temperature on metabolic rate. Emerging evidence presented at RACMEM underscored that temperature-driven metabolic modulation is not merely a passive process but involves active molecular signaling and tissue-specific adaptations that require refined measurement tools capturing metabolic fluxes in vivo with high temporal resolution. These insights bear profound implications for ecology in the context of global climate change, where temperature shifts directly perturb organismal energy balance and ecosystem stability.
Protein metabolism and its impact on whole-body energy dynamics were also receiving considerable attention. Although the thermic effect of protein ingestion has been acknowledged, the nuanced interplay between protein intake, amino acid metabolism, and regulatory hormones modulating basal and activity-related metabolic rates demands clearer delineation. Enhanced metabolic phenotyping would enable quantification of these relationships, guiding nutritional interventions for both human health and animal husbandry.
The conference showcased advances in indirect calorimetry, stable isotope tracers, respirometric methods, and emerging bioenergetics technologies. Yet, a clear consensus emerged on the necessity for standardization of methodologies across laboratories and disciplines to foster comparability and reproducibility of findings. This standardization effort is envisioned to integrate novel computational models incorporating systems biology approaches with empirical data from cutting-edge measurement platforms.
Prof. Jan Nedergaard, a former member of the Nobel Prize Committee and Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Academician, encapsulated the urgency stating, “Our understanding of energy regulatory systems is fundamentally limited by the granularity and accuracy of our measurement techniques. Only through sustained technological innovation can we hope to decode the complexities inherent to metabolic regulation.”
Host of the conference, Prof. John Speakman of SIAT and Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stressed the critical role energy metabolism research plays in addressing the mounting challenges of the 21st century — from mitigating the health impacts of metabolic diseases to contributing to global sustainability goals. Speakman, also a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society, advocated for a surge in research funding and global collaboration targeting metabolism measurement innovation.
Participants collectively recognized that tackling public health crises such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases is inextricably linked to advancing metabolic science. Concurrently, mitigating the effects of climate change requires a profound understanding of how energy fluxes across biological hierarchies influence biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem resilience.
The role of Chinese scientific investment in metabolomics and energy research was applauded for accelerating progress in this domain. This momentum aligns with national priorities toward fostering innovation-led sustainable development. Moreover, the conference underscored the imperative of nurturing the next generation of scientists. To this end, Life Metabolism journal, published by Oxford University Press, extended scholarships facilitating international engagement for early-career researchers, ensuring continued dynamism and diversity in the field.
Notably, the Shenzhen-hosted RACMEM marked the first time this influential congress has convened in China, reflecting the country’s rising prominence in metabolic science on the global stage. Past conferences were held in various locations including Denver (USA), Maastricht (Netherlands), Tokyo (Japan), Fribourg (Switzerland), and Quebec (Canada), illustrating the event’s international character and the worldwide nature of metabolism research challenges.
Altogether, the RACMEM conference illuminated the pivotal intersections of technology, biology, environment, and health that define energy metabolism science today. The clarion call for enhanced measurement technology standardization and innovation resonates as a strategic imperative to unlock the mechanism-driven interventions crucial for human well-being and planetary health amid accelerating environmental and societal changes.
Subject of Research: Energy Metabolism Measurement Technologies and Their Role in Addressing Global Health and Environmental Challenges
Article Title: Global Scientists Urge Advancement in Energy Metabolism Measurement at RACMEM 2023 Conference
News Publication Date: October 18, 2023
Web References: https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/7a2e43cb-73a8-4a0b-a8cc-3b25327601bd/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: SIAT
Keywords: Metabolism, Climate change, Public health
