12/03/2020 - News en

Proteomics4Future: Investigating new technologies for protein analysis in a “ZIM collaborative network”

Automated sample preparation for mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Proteins are the most important biochemical function carriers, the aggregation of which is the proteome. Since the proteome of a cell or an organism is strongly influenced by external factors such as temperature, pH value or drugs, proteome analysis - in short: proteomics - plays a major role in the pharmaceutical industry. The improved availability of modern measuring instruments enables the industry to conduct target-independent drug discovery and to develop so-called biotherapeutics. These drugs, also known as "drugs of the future", are developed from living cells and enable more effective, safer and more cost-efficient therapies for personalized medicine. However, commercial use and large-scale application in clinical studies and routine diagnostics currently face challenges in terms of user-friendliness, sensitivity, robustness, costs and standardization.

The newly approved ZIM collaborative network “Proteomics4Future” officially started with an interactive online meeting on December 3^rd. Twelve partners from research institutions and companies aim to accelerate the establishment of mass spectrometry-based proteomics on the market through new methods and workflow standardization. The Freiburg, Germany-based research and development service provider Hahn-Schickard develops automated sample preparation using centrifugal microfluidics while the start-up Alithea Bio UG, works on bioinformatics products.

Based on their collaborative projects, the participating companies and research institutions want to create solutions for existing commercial and medical issues through research and development. Solutions include standardized technologies for sample preparation and AI-based methods for data analysis. The goal is to identify new applications and overcome existing limitations. Routine processes should allow for more reliable, faster and more cost-effective results. Automation of these laboratory procedures, especially sample handling and processing, is intended as a further leveraging tool for these network objectives.

The Central Innovation Program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the network while ifectic Innvoationsförderung - Dr. Björn Mamat has taken on the network’s management. Additional network members include: MSAID GmbH, OmicScouts GmbH, PreOmics GmbH, A&M Labor für Analytik und Metabolismusforschung Service GmbH, Cellzome GmbH, EpiQMax GmbH, Hamilton Bonaduz AG, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences (CeMOS), Immatics and the Technical University of Munich (Institute for General Pathology and Pathological Anatomy).

The network is seeking additional partners: Interested companies and research institutions that would like to participate in R&D projects and can contribute additional expertise are just as welcome as potential users of the newly developed solutions. Look for further information soon at www.proteomics4future.net.