Dr Christian Ludwig

Department of Metabolism and Systems Science
Associate Professor in Metabolic Biophysics
Lead for Academic Integrity in the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science

Contact details

Email: c.ludwig@bham.ac.uk

View my research portal

Address: University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Funded by the Higher Education Founding Council of England (HEFCE)

Biography

Career History

2015 - Lecturer for Metabolic Biophysics, University of Birmingham
2008-2015 -Scientific Officer for Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy, University of Birmingham
2004-2008 - Computer Systems Architect (HWB-NMR), University of Birmingham
2001-2004 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London
2001- PhD (Biochemistry), JWG University Frankfurt
1995- Diploma (Biochemistry), JWB University Frankfurt

Research

Research in Christian's group is focused on the development of novel experimental and analytical approaches to map metabolic pathway activities without necessarily assuming a particular metabolism model for a given cell type with a strong focus on studying metabolism of ex-vivo perfused kidneys.

The primary method the research group uses and is developing is NMR- and GC/MS-based metabolic pathway analysis and tracking stable isotope tracer-based metabolic flux (http://nmrlab.org.uk). These approaches are driving the growth of disease diagnostics through their ability to map and quantitate systems of metabolites which are linked to genetic and proteomic alterations. The approach would is geared to identify new pathways and metabolic responses. Mammalian cells present a diversity of complex metabolic networks that are compartmentalized and governed by poorly understood regulatory processes. Hence it is very difficult to predict the parts of the metabolic pathways that are important.

The research group's approach is based on Combined Analysis of NMR and MS Spectra (CANMS), leading to synergies which allow for the accurate identification of isotopomer distributions from key metabolites that can then be used as input for guiding metabolism simulation.

Group members

PhD Students: Jay Nath; Thomas Smith

Major collaborators

Dan Tennant (University of Birmingham), Marta Cascante (University of Barcelona), Adrian Harris (University of Oxford), Stefano Tiziani (University of Austen, Texas), Farhat Khanim (University of Birmingham), Ulrich Günther (University of Birmingham), Patrick Pollard (University of Edinburgh), Guy Pratt (University of Birmingham)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Ludwig, C 2025, 'MetaboLabPy: An Open-Source Software Package for Metabolomics NMR Data Processing and Metabolic Tracer Data Analysis', Metabolites, vol. 15, no. 1, 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15010048

Patel, K, Nath, J, Smith, T, Darius, T, Thakker, A, Dimeloe, S, Inston, N, Ready, A & Ludwig, C 2025, 'Metabolic Characterization of Deceased Donor Kidneys Undergoing Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Before Transplantation Using ¹³C-enriched Glucose.', Transplantation direct, vol. 11, no. 1, e1736. https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001736

Stanulović, VS, Binhassan, S, Jaber, BA, Alazmi, S, Saleman, FMB, Potluri, S, Pratt, G, Ludwig, C, Ward, DG & Hoogenkamp, M 2025, 'PHF6 interacts with the LMO2 complex in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia', Haematologica. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2024.287124

Moots, RJ, Fortune, F, Jackson, R, Thornburn, T, Morgan, AW, Carr, DF, Murray, PI, Ludwig, C, Wallace, G & Situnayake, D 2025, 'Predicting response to infliximab and interferon-α in Behçet’s syndrome: An exploratory analysis from the BIO-BEHÇET’S randomized controlled trial', Rheumatology and Immunology Research, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 70-79. https://doi.org/10.1515/rir-2025-0010

Thompson, JP, Cristobal-Carballo, O, Yan, T, Lawther, K, Dimonaco, NJ, Zeller, WE, Zhang, Z, Huws, S, Safo, L, Southam, AD, Ludwig, C, Lloyd, GR, Stergiadis, S & Theodoridou, K 2025, 'Unlocking the potential of willow condensed tannins: effects on rumen fermentation, microbiome, and metabolome for sustainable ruminant nutrition', Animal Microbiome, vol. 7, no. 1, 81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-025-00444-6

Ta, L, Corrigan, S, Tselepis, C, Iqbal, T, Ludwig, C & Horniblow, R 2024, 'Gastrointestinal-inert prebiotic micro-composites improve the growth and community diversity of mucosal-associated bacteria', Journal of Controlled Release, vol. 375, pp. 495-512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.09.021

Cuozzo, F, Viloria, K, Shilleh, AH, Nasteska, D, Frazer-Morris, C, Tong, J, Jiao, Z, Boufersaoui, A, Marzullo, B, Rosoff, DB, Smith, HR, Bonner, C, Kerr-Conte, J, Pattou, F, Nano, R, Piemonti, L, Johnson, PRV, Spiers, R, Roberts, J, Lavery, GG, Clark, A, Ceresa, CDL, Ray, DW, Hodson, L, Davies, AP, Rutter, GA, Oshima, M, Scharfmann, R, Merrins, MJ, Akerman, I, Tennant, DA, Ludwig, C & Hodson, DJ 2024, 'LDHB contributes to the regulation of lactate levels and basal insulin secretion in human pancreatic β cells', Cell Reports, vol. 43, no. 4, 114047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114047

Sostare, E, Bowen, TJ, Lawson, TN, Freier, A, Li, X, Lloyd, GR, Najdekr, L, Jankevics, A, Smith, T, Varshavi, D, Ludwig, C, Colbourne, JK, Weber, RJM, Crizer, DM, Auerbach, SS, Bucher, JR & Viant, MR 2024, 'Metabolomics Simultaneously Derives Benchmark Dose Estimates and Discovers Metabolic Biotransformations in a Rat Bioassay', Chemical Research in Toxicology, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 923–934. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00002

Stanulović, VS, Al Omair, S, Reed, MAC, Roberts, J, Potluri, S, Fulton-Ward, T, Gudgeon, N, Bishop, EL, Roels, J, Perry, TA, Sarkar, S, Pratt, G, Taghon, T, Dimeloe, S, Günther, UL, Ludwig, C & Hoogenkamp, M 2024, 'The glutamate/aspartate transporter EAAT1 is crucial for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia proliferation and survival', Haematologica. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2023.283471

Ferrante, L, Rajpoot, K, Jeeves, M & Ludwig, C 2023, 'Automated analysis for multiplet identification from ultrahigh resolution 2D-¹H,¹³C-HSQC NMR spectra [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]', Wellcome Open Research, vol. 7, 262. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18248.1

Gama-Almeida, MC, Pinto, GDA, Teixeira, L, Hottz, ED, Ivens, P, Ribeiro, H, Garrett, R, Torres, AG, Carneiro, TIA, Barbalho, BDO, Ludwig, C, Struchiner, CJ, Assunção-Miranda, I, Valente, APC, Bozza, FA, Bozza, PT, dos Santos, GC & El-Bacha, T 2023, 'Integrated NMR and MS Analysis of the Plasma Metabolome Reveals Major Changes in One-Carbon, Lipid, and Amino Acid Metabolism in Severe and Fatal Cases of COVID-19', Metabolites, vol. 13, no. 7, 879. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13070879

Darius, T, Vergauwen, M, Maistriaux, L, Evrard, R, Schlegel, A, Mueller, M, O’Neil, D, Southam, A, Aydin, S, Devresse, A, De Meyer, M, Gianello, P, Ludwig, C, Dutkowski, P & Mourad, M 2023, 'Intermittent Surface Oxygenation Results in Similar Mitochondrial Protection and Maintenance of Aerobic Metabolism as Compared to Continuous Oxygenation during Hypothermic Machine Kidney Machine Perfusion', Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 12, no. 11, 3731. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12113731

Szatkowska, R, Furmanek, E, Kierzek, AM, Ludwig, C & Adamczyk, M 2023, 'Mitochondrial Metabolism in the Spotlight: Maintaining Balanced RNAP III Activity Ensures Cellular Homeostasis', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 19, 14763. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914763

GENEVA collaborators 2022, 'Effect of BMI on safety of bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, procedure choice, and safety protocols - an analysis from the GENEVA Study', Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 249-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2022.06.003

GENEVA collaborators, Singhal, R, Wiggins, T, Pouwels, S, Rajeev, Y, Madhok, B, Hanif, W, Tahrani, AA, Graham, Y, Ludwig, C & Mahawar, K 2022, 'Handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Effects on Bariatric Surgical Practice: Analysis of GENEVA Study Database', Obesity surgery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-022-06267-7

View all publications in research portal