Measurement Challenges in Proteomics

The word “proteome” is derived from PROTEins expressed by a genOME, and it refers to all the proteins produced by an organism, much like the genome is the entire set of genes. The human body contains a vast number of different proteins, each having different functions. As the main components of the physiological pathways of the cells, proteins serve vital functions in the body. Proteomics plays an important role in drug discovery, diagnostics and molecular medicine, providing a link between genes, proteins, metabolites, and disease.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is facilitating a U.S. Measurement System (USMS) initiative that will be undertaken in close cooperation with the private and public sectors to ensure that the nation’s highest-priority measurement needs are identified and met in the 21st century. NIST plans to publish a USMS Roadmap on a regular basis, reporting to USMS customers and stakeholders on what should be done, by NIST and others, to meet the needs of the USMS, and delineating the consequences of not meeting those needs. The Measurement Challenges in Proteomics Workshop is part of this initiative and will endeavor to survey (identify and prioritize) system-wide needs in coordinating, performing and using protein measurements.

The inability to establish performance criteria to better understand the quality of proteomic technique results, has led to poor confidence in protein measurement techniques, difficulty in assessing the agreement of different experiments, conflicting reports in the literature, and lost opportunities. If proteomics technologies are to successfully make their way into clinical diagnostics, universally accepted metrics will be needed at many steps along the way to help clarify experimental results and protocols and make them comparable.

By participating in this workshop, members will help identify and prioritize a measurement needs agenda that addresses the technical infrastructure (measurement science, standards, and data) in the field of proteomics. Participants will also identify how best to transfer knowledge and share priorities across industry, government, funding agencies, regulatory agencies, educational and not-for-profit institutions in order to build strong collaborations and partnerships. By the end of the workshop, a roadmap of the measurement needs should be outlined. The steps needed to address these needs as well as the consequences of inaction will be stated.

Title:	Measurement Challenges in Proteomics
Venue:	Sheraton Boston Hotel The workshop is being held in conjunction with the US HUPO 2006 Annual Meeting (http://www.ushupo.org)
Date:	March 12, 2006
Workshop Goals:	Survey (identify and prioritize) measurement needs that addresses the technical infrastructure and hurdles (measurement science, standards, and data) in the field of proteomics. Identify how best to transfer knowledge and share priorities across organizations in order to build strong collaborations and partnerships.
About the Workshop:	The word “proteome” is derived from PROTEins expressed by a genOME, and it refers to all the proteins produced by an organism, much like the genome is the entire set of genes. The human body contains a vast number of different proteins, each having different functions. As the main components of the physiological pathways of the cells, proteins serve vital functions in the body. Proteomics plays an important role in drug discovery, diagnostics and molecular medicine, providing a link between genes, proteins, metabolites, and disease. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is facilitating a U.S. Measurement System (USMS) initiative that will be undertaken in close cooperation with the private and public sectors to ensure that the nation’s highest-priority measurement needs are identified and met in the 21st century. NIST plans to publish a USMS Roadmap on a regular basis, reporting to USMS customers and stakeholders on what should be done, by NIST and others, to meet the needs of the USMS, and delineating the consequences of not meeting those needs. The Measurement Challenges in Proteomics Workshop is part of this initiative and will endeavor to survey (identify and prioritize) system-wide needs in coordinating, performing and using protein measurements. The inability to establish performance criteria to better understand the quality of proteomic technique results, has led to poor confidence in protein measurement techniques, difficulty in assessing the agreement of different experiments, conflicting reports in the literature, and lost opportunities. If proteomics technologies are to successfully make their way into clinical diagnostics, universally accepted metrics will be needed at many steps along the way to help clarify experimental results and protocols and make them comparable. By participating in this workshop, members will help identify and prioritize a measurement needs agenda that addresses the technical infrastructure (measurement science, standards, and data) in the field of proteomics. Participants will also identify how best to transfer knowledge and share priorities across industry, government, funding agencies, regulatory agencies, educational and not-for-profit institutions in order to build strong collaborations and partnerships. By the end of the workshop, a roadmap of the measurement needs should be outlined. The steps needed to address these needs as well as the consequences of inaction will be stated.
Stakeholders:	Industry (pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, clinical laboratories, contract research organizations, manufacturers), government, funding agencies, regulatory agencies, educational and not-for-profit institutions.
Executive Committee:	Stanley Hefta, PhD, Bristol-Myers Squibb William F. Koch, PhD, National Institute of Standards and Technology John Kozarich, PhD, ActivX Biosciences Joshua LaBaer, MD, PhD, Harvard Institute of Proteomics James Rick Ludwig, PhD, INCAPS Gilbert S. Omenn, MD, PhD, University of Michigan Medical School Henry Rodriguez, PhD, MBA, National Institute of Standards and Technology Sudhir Srivastava, PhD, National Cancer Institute Thomas Wiggins, BSME, MBA, National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Contacts:	Henry Rodriguez, Chemical Science & Technology Laboratory, (301) 975-2578, (henry.rodriguez@nist.gov) Tom Wiggins (Lead), Advanced Technology Program, (301) 975-5416, thomas.wiggins@nist.gov
Workshop Program and Registration Information:	ON LINE REGISTRATION Registration Information [Printable version in pdf format] Workshop Flyer: Click here to download workshop flyer.