A lipidomics roadmap: from basic research to societal challenges

Lipidomics, a rapidly evolving discipline at the interface of biology and analytical chemistry, seeks to comprehensively characterize the lipid composition of biological systems. Driven by advances in mass spectrometry, chromatography and computational analysis, lipidomics has enabled the high-resolution mapping of lipid networks and their functional dynamics across molecular, cellular and organismal scales. In biomedical research, lipidomics is emerging as a powerful platform for biomarker discovery, enabling early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. The field is also reshaping drug discovery by uncovering lipid-mediated pathways, identifying novel therapeutic targets, and refining assessments of drug efficacy and safety. Beyond medicine, lipidomic analyses are redefining food and nutrition science by elucidating how dietary lipids influence metabolic health and disease risk. In parallel, environmental and ecological lipidomics are emerging as powerful frameworks for assessing ecosystem health, tracking the impact of pollutants and exploring the biological consequences of climate change. Such approaches are also informing the discovery of sustainable lipid resources and the development of novel biotechnological and agricultural innovations. With its rapidly expanding analytical repertoire and cross-disciplinary relevance, lipidomics is poised to make substantial contributions to both fundamental biology and applied science. This Perspective aims to synthesise the current state of the field, delineate major analytical and conceptual challenges, and outline future directions for translating lipidomic knowledge into tangible societal and environmental benefits.