Metabolic Research Unit Maastricht
Located within Maastricht University, the NUTRIM Metabolic Research Unit Maastricht (MRUM) provides high end infrastructure for studying human energy metabolism. MRUM is a leading facility taking translational human studies on energy and metabolism substrate research to the next level. As metabolic disorders such as obesity and type II diabetes become increasingly prevalent, MRUM supports high-quality research into energy expenditure and metabolic processes relevant to nutrition, health, and pharmaceutical sciences.
The facility offers a controlled study environment for academic and industry researchers. External access is available under good clinical practice and with approval in line with Dutch CCMO regulations.
IDEE (Innovative Design and Engineering for Education) at Maastricht University provides essential engineering services, helping researchers create custom experimental setups and prototypes. In the Metabolic Research Unit Maastricht, IDEE played a pivotal role in designing and building the advanced respiration rooms. This collaboration drives innovation, turning research visions into cutting-edge reality.
Metabolic research facilities
High technology research rooms
MRUM features twenty state-of-the-art research rooms upholding top safety and climate control standards. Advanced systems ensure exceptional stability for both environments and equipment. A separate technical room houses sensitive equipment.
These high-tech rooms incorporate cutting-edge monitoring for precise metabolic measurements, including indirect calorimetry and substrate oxidation analysis. Seamless integration with respiration chambers enables controlled human intervention studies on energy metabolism and nutrient utilisation.
Multi-purpose research spaces
Eleven of the research rooms are flexible and can be adapted to different research demands, offering flexibility for various research setups. These include physical setups (such as beds, sports equipment or group interactions) and environmental settings (climate control, ventilation, overnight stays or interventions focused on circadian rhythms).
The remaining nine rooms are specifically equipped for intensive exercise testing, body analysis (such as BodPod and underwater weighing) and long-term calorimetry studies for up to seven days in extended closed-rooms.
MRUM respiration rooms
A unique feature of MRUM is its five climate-controlled respiration rooms, similar to small hotel rooms (14 m³). These rooms are equipped with a bed, sink, toilet, computer, and TV. They allow measurement of energy consumption and metabolism under strictly controlled conditions ranging from 12 hours to seven days. The rooms deliver precise measurements of energy expenditure, substrate oxidation for transformative human metabolism studies. Their exceptional control over environmental factors delivers reliable, reproducible results, making these respiration rooms ideal for obesity, diabetes, and nutrition research.
New and latest research facility and design is the fermentation chamber.
One of the MRUM respiration rooms is upgraded to a unique and innovative fermentation room. This offers a dedicated environment to study real-time activity of gut bacteria in humans using advanced gas-sensing technology. In this specialised room, sealed and ventilated research chambers allow precise measurement of respiratory and intestinal gases while participants follow controlled dietary interventions, such as high-fibre meals. This innovative setup strengthens NUTRIM’s metabolic research by enabling detailed investigation of how gut microbial fermentation contributes to metabolic health and disease.