Center for Medical Proteomics

Center for Medical Proteomics

Harvey B. Pollard, M.D., Ph.D., Director

Project Leaders

A true revolution in biology and medicine has occurred as a consequence of the recent completion of the first draft of the human genome and of genomes of model organisms such as the mouse and rat. In previous years, specific biomedical problems had to be studied in terms of one gene or protein at a time. The human genome revolution means that we can now study the consequences of any kind of intrusion into the system in terms of the simultaneous expression of the ensemble of all genes (genomics) and all proteins (proteomics) at once. This novel capacity has been termed the 21st Century Microscope. In the context of the types of such intrusions of interest to the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and of the regulatory community in general, we envision mutations, radiation, drugs, toxins and chemical and physical injury. At USUHS, this 21st Century Microscope has been assembled in our Center for Medical Genomics and Proteomics and stands ready for action. However, in order for the 21st Century Microscope to work properly, the equivalent of a lens is also necessary. The equivalent of a lens for genomic and proteomic studies is a set of bioinformatic algorithms which allow us to convert the massive array of expression data into pictures of what is really happening. Our Center is at the creative, cutting edge of a revolution in bioinformatics in which hypothesis-driven experiments an be performed, essentially replacing the purely discovery-driven fishing expeditions of the recent past.
 
Center Participants

NO1 Presentation (Restricted Access)

Contact Information

4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Resources