MOU Extends CPTAC Proteomics Standardized Workflows within an Active Clinical Research Setting
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Seoul National University Hospital formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the development and adoption of proteomic technologies in an active clinical setting. Specifically, NCI's Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research (OCCPR) and Seoul National University Cancer Hospital (SNUCH, a specialized hospital of the Seoul National University Hospital system), will test NCI’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) proteomic technologies, standards, workflows, and protein assays in a clinical research laboratory. Research projects under this MOU will address critical questions about the application of proteomic technologies in active clinical setting, from generation of proteomic data, to interpretation and translation of the data for the physician, to communication to the patient, including an examination of the ethical, legal and psychosocial implications of bringing broad proteomic data into the clinic. This partnership also facilitates the sharing of cancer-associated protein targets, training/exchange of scientists and information; and subsequent public dissemination of products and data to the research community. Additionally, this MOU extends on from a previous agreement between NCI and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology which focuses on proteomic technology optimization and standards implementation in large-scale international programs.
NCI and Affinomics Coordinate Antibody Production/Characterization
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Europe's Affinomics Consortium formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop new cooperative activities in the production of cancer-associated protein targets, binders, characterization, and the subsequent public dissemination of products and data to the global research community. NCI’s Antibody Characterization Program, a component in NCI’s OCCPR, provides renewable reagents (monoclonal antibodies) to human cancer-associated proteins to support protein/peptide measurement and analysis. The antibody data portal provides information and access for a large number of reagents that are needed for effective proteomic analysis. Characterization may include western blot, surface plasmon resonance, Indirect ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immuno-mass spectroscopy. All antigens and antibodies are expressed, purified, produced and characterized using standard operating procedures which are freely accessible to the public. The antibodies and all characterization data are then made publicly available. The Affinomics Consortium is focused on generating comprehensive binder sets for protein kinases, protein tyrosine phosphatases, SH2 domain containing proteins, and cancer associated proteins, including those with somatic or germ line mutations in cancer. This MOU facilitates coordination [to avoid duplication] in the production of cancer-associated proteins, antibodies, and the subsequent characterization with public dissemination of products and data to the community.
Improved Search for NCI Antibody Portal
In related news, NCI’s Antibody Portal now features new search filters enabling quick and efficient access to antibody characterization data. Visit the antibody portal today to access more than 224 highly characterized monoclonal antibodies corresponding to 80 cancer-associated antigens at http://antibodies.cancer.gov.
Skyline Software for Peptide MRM Method Development now available in both 32-bit and 64-bit Versions
Skyline, a Windows client application for building Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) / Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) assays, is now available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This open-source tool from the lab of Mike MacCoss at the University of Washington was originally developed through funding from NCI’s OCCPR.