Integromics announces winners of proteomics grant competition

06-22-2011: Integromics announced the two winners of the Integromics 'Proteomics Mass Spectrometry Research Grant' competition, for the creative use of Integromics' OmicsHub(R) proteomics solution. The winners are Prof. Stephen Pennington from University College Dublin and Dr. Michelle Cilia from the USDA-ARS (U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service). From 50 applicants, 12 were shortlisted, with two final winners, who will both receive a free one year license to OmicsHub Proteomics from Integromics.

Dr. Michelle Cilia, a scientist in the Agricultural Research Service, the research branch of United States Department of Agriculture is conducting research focusing on plant virus transmission by aphids, insects that feed on the phloem sap of plants and transmit hundreds of destructive plant viruses. Using proteomic phenotyping, Dr. Cilia and her colleagues at the USDA discovered a robust panel of biomarkers that accurately identify aphid populations that are efficient virus vectors. These were clinically validated in aphid populations collected from various cropping systems throughout the United States. The next phase of their research will expand the clinical validation studies to aphid populations collected from other continents, as well into other insects that transmit plant viruses. Dr. Cilia and colleagues are testing the OmicsHub Proteomics platform for potential integration into their biomarker discovery platform for data sharing, network analysis and protein quantification.

The University College Dublin research proposal aims to build a mass spectrometry clinical utility to discover and develop protein biomarkers assays to establish disease and clinical decision from patient samples.

"University College Dublin and USDA-ARS are both highly respected for their cutting edge-research in proteomics," said Dr. Michael J. McManus, CEO, Integromics. "By sharing their expertise, we will all work together to make additional improvements to OmicsHub Proteomics that better serve the needs of both the winners and the wider core facilities market. This will result in a better understanding of the variety of common usage scenarios of OmicsHub Proteomics in real core facility settings, as well as other uses for the technology."