Over the past few years it has become clear that alterations in lipid metabolism play an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer as well as in inflammation, pain and neurodegenerative diseases. This means that the molecular components of specific lipid signalling pathways are potential targets for novel therapeutics. Lipid metabolism generates signalling molecules of exceptional variability and complexity but the analytical methods used to detect lipid intermediates have been improved and the first potent therapeutics directed against lipids and lipid signalling have been introduced into the market. Therefore, interest in this area is expected to increase and lipid signalling it on its way to becoming a central topic in translational research.