Summary
The Proteomics Unit is a joint effort of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and the Centre of Genomic Regulation (CRG) to create an innovative research infrastructure with a high-level of excellence and sustainability to support scientists in their research projects and thus, successfully advance forward the European science roadmap.
The main activities of the Proteomics Unit are focused onto the creation of added value to the scientific community in the field of proteomics and mass spectrometric analysis of biological samples. The unit provides high quality proteomics services to its final users, by providing proper expertise and advice, and by developing new methods and techniques. The main of action are the support basic and translational research, the training of the scientific community, the development of innovative proteomics and mass spectrometry technology, and the development of integrated computational proteomics resources.
As a reference proteomics centre, the Unit has state-of-the-art equipment and in 2015 the Proteomics Unit became the first European facility to get the newest tri-hybrid mass spectrometer Orbitrap Fusion Lumos from Thermo Fisher Scientific. This instrument was the first unit installed in Europe and the third in the world and enable a broader range of comprehensive proteomics experiments with enhanced sensitivity and new fragmentation capabilities. Moreover, in 2015 the Proteomics Unit submitted a patent on biomarkers for early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in collaboration with the Hospital Vall d’Hebron and successfully organized an EMBO practical course on “Targeted Proteomics”, the “Courses@CRG: Advanced proteomics course for molecular and cellular biologists”, and the Annual Proteomics Symposium 2015.
The Proteomics Unit is part of the “Plataforma de Recursos Biomoleculares y Bioinformáticos (ProteoRed, Instituto Carlos III)” a national consortium of proteomics units that grants access to state-of-the-art proteomics technology to the national health system and the national biomedical research community.
Research projects
The Proteomics Unit promotes internal technology-driven research as an essential task to develop new applications and thus improve the services offered to the users.
- Development of accurate and precise mass spectrometric protein quantitation methods to profile proteome and phosphoproteome responses to external perturbations.
- Generation of new high-throughput targeted proteomics methods for improved protein quantitation and sensitivity in large sets of samples.
- Development of experimental and computational tools for the identification and quantification of post-translational protein modifications.
- Optimization of chromatographic separation techniques
- Biomarker screening and validation.