BASF METABOLOME SOLUTIONS GMBH

Their core work

BASF Metabolome Solutions (formerly Metanomics Health) is the metabolomics service arm of chemical giant BASF, specializing in profiling thousands of small molecules in biological samples to reveal how chemicals affect living systems. Their Berlin lab provides metabolic fingerprinting used in chemical safety testing, drug development, and mechanism-of-action studies. In EU research, they contribute metabolomics readouts that help replace animal testing with mechanism-based, human-relevant toxicity data. For industry and regulators, they turn complex biological responses into actionable safety signals.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Between 2016 and 2019 the group worked on foundational systems toxicology — molecular mechanisms, cheminformatics, biokinetics and qualitative AOPs — supporting repeated-dose and reproductive toxicity testing in EU-ToxRisk, alongside systems-biology disease modelling in SyBil-AA. From 2021 onward, with RISK-HUNT3R, their work has shifted toward quantitative AOP networks, toxicokinetics/toxicodynamics, exposure modelling and case studies aimed at regulatory acceptance. The trajectory is clear: from descriptive mechanism research toward quantitative, human-centric, regulation-ready next-generation risk assessment.

They are moving from exploratory mechanism research into regulator-ready, quantitative human-centric safety assessment — a good fit for consortia aiming to replace animal testing with validated in vitro and in silico methods.

How they like to work

They always participate as a third party (linked through BASF or a consortium member), never as coordinator or named participant, which reflects their role as a specialist service provider rather than a project lead. Despite this limited formal role, they have touched 72 partners across 17 countries through large flagship consortia. Expect them to deliver a specific technical package — metabolomics analytics — rather than to drive overall project management.

Through three projects they connect to 72 unique partners across 17 countries, almost all in European toxicology, pharma and academic networks. The reach is pan-European with a clear German-industrial anchor via BASF.

What sets them apart

Very few EU partners combine industrial-scale, validated metabolomics platforms with deep involvement in regulatory toxicology flagships like EU-ToxRisk and RISK-HUNT3R. Being part of BASF gives them access to chemical libraries, compliance expertise and an industry perspective that pure academic metabolomics labs cannot match. Partner with them when your project needs production-grade metabolic profiling that will stand up to regulatory scrutiny.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EU-ToxRisk
  Europe's flagship programme for mechanism-based toxicity testing — their earliest and longest-running engagement, defining their regulatory-toxicology profile.
• RISK-HUNT3R
  Direct successor to EU-ToxRisk (2021-2026), positioning them at the centre of Europe's push toward human-centric, animal-free chemical safety assessment.
• SyBil-AA
  Unusual diversification into neuroscience — applying their systems-biology and profiling skills to alcohol addiction rather than classical toxicology.