NThe Benelux Metabolomics Centre (BMC), founded in 2014, is an independent foundation open to international partners, that unites universities, research institutes, and private organisations — from multinationals to SMEs — from Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg (BeNeLux) to advance metabolomics technologies and their applications across life sciences, including nutrition & health, plant, animal and environmental sciences and industrial biotechnology.
BMC fosters public–private collaboration, develops national and international research projects, promotes standardisation and research facilities, and supports education, training, and communication in metabolomics and multi-omics integration.
Its activities focus on knowledge exchange, education & training, communication and collaboration, ensuring that metabolomics data is FAIR at the source and integrated with other omics data to deepen the understanding of disease onset, progression, and biological processes.
Serving as a hub for the Benelux and international research community, BMC connects expertise, promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology, and strengthens community building. Through this network, BMC develops the tools and strategies needed to address key challenges in metabolomics and to unlock its full potential.
The foundation is funded through partnership fees, with partners drawn from public and private organisations that support BMC’s mission and actively engage in its network.

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What is Metabolomics?

Much like genomics aims to unravel the structure of the genome, metabolomics focuses on understanding the many small molecule metabolites that result from a cell’s metabolic processes. There are an estimated 5,000 – 20,000 endogenous human metabolites, and analysing their production gives an accurate picture of the physiology of a cell at a given moment in time. Whereas the cell’s genotype can predict its physiology to a limited extent, metabolomics also takes phenotype – and therefore environmental conditions – into account, allowing a more precise measure of actual cell physiology.

For research, the study of metabolomics provides the means to measure the effects of a variety of stimuli on individual cells, tissues, and bodily fluids.By studying how their metabolic profiles change with the introduction of chemicals or the expression of known genes, for example, researchers can more effectively study the immediate impact of disease, nutrition, pharmaceutical treatment, and genetic modifications while using a systems biology approach.

Organisation

BMC is a foundation established under Dutch law that derives its income from partner membership fees. According to the BMC Partner Agreement, a BMC partner is a public or private organisation that is an independent legal entity with an active scientific or commercial interest in metabolomics technologies, expertise, and/or infrastructure. Partners support the mission and objectives of BMC and actively participate in its network. The foundation welcomes international partners.

The Board of the foundation is composed of representatives from academic and industrial partners

• Dr Adriana Carvalho de Souza, dsm-firmenich, chair
• Prof. dr Thomas Hankemeier, Leiden University, NL, (director)
• Prof. Jildau Bouwman, TNO, secretary
• Dr Michel Weeghel, Amsterdam UMC, treasurer
• Prof. dr. Herman Spaink, LU
• Dr Sofia Moco, VU Amsterdam
• Dr Justin van der Hooft, Wageningen UR
• Bart Ghesquiere, KU Leuven
• Nathalie Legrave, LIH

Representing YoungNMC

• Dr. Alessio Ciurli, PhD candidate (dsm-firmenich)

All partners have the right to nominate one representant in the Partner Advisory Committee. The board meets at least once a year with the PAC. The PAC advises the board on the strategy and policy of NMC an on any other major issue that may be of relevance for the foundation.

The board is assisted by a management team that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the foundation.

The Management Team consists of:

• Merlijn van Rijswijk MSc MBA – Managing Director
• Dr. Meike Bünger – Community Manager
• Prof.dr. Thomas Hankemeier – Scientific Director

Partnership fee and minimal term of partnership

NMC partners pay a yearly partnership fee to the NMC foundation. The fee is depending on the size and the nature of the partner’s organisation.

Financial information

• Chamber of Commerce: 61268259
• VAT number: 854277250.B01
• Account holder: Netherlands Metabolomics Centre Foundation
• IBAN: NL07ABNA0469852526
• BIC: ABNANL2A
• Bank: ABN AMRO