Milk Analytics Core (MAC)
Your one-stop analytical platform for deep molecular phenotyping of human milk and related samples
One Pipeline, Endless Data
The Milk Analytics Core (MAC) is a centralized platform at UC San Diego dedicated to deep molecular phenotyping of human milk and related samples, bringing advanced analytics into one coordinated research pipeline.
Closing Critical Knowledge Gaps
MAC exists to address major scientific blind spots in our understanding of human milk composition, generating high-quality data that supports research into infant development, maternal health, and lifelong disease prevention.
Specialized Analytics for a Complex Biological Matrix
Human milk requires collection methods and assay platforms specifically validated for its unique chemistry - something conventional blood or urine assays cannot reliably provide. MAC is built around human milk-optimized analytical workflows.
Measuring the Benefits, Detecting Potential Harm
MAC quantifies beneficial bioactives while also detecting unwanted exposures such as medications or environmental contaminants, supporting research on maternal and infant health and safety.
Comprehensive Molecular Profiling
The MAC platform spans major molecular classes - carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and micronutrients - and extends into advanced omics approaches including HMO-mics, lipidomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
From First Contact to Data Delivery
Our goal is to provide you with high-quality data as quickly as possible. Learn about our streamlined process and attractive pricing.
A Resource for the Global Research Community
Our vision is for MAC to become a comprehensive human milk analytics resource, offering knowledge, skills, and technologies for the global research community, including UC San Diego collaborators, other academic institutions as well as commercial organizations.
We look forward to growing the MAC community on campus and around the world.
Partner with us
Are you planning a study that includes human milk and need help with collection protocols and analyses? Do you already have milk samples collected and would like us to analyze them with you?
With Deep Gratitude
MAC was established through support from the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), the UC San Diego Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), endowed by the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, as well as the NIH/NICHD-funded UC San Diego MPRINT Center of Excellence in Therapeutics (P50 HD106463).
