Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: PROTEOMICS & METABOLOMICS SHARED RESOURCE The Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource (P&MSR) of the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium was formed in 2002, initially offering proteomics services and adding metabolomics services beginning in 2013. The resource is co-directed by Dr. Phil Gafken, directing proteomics activities, and Dr. Daniel Raftery directing metabolomics activities, both of whom have been in those positions since the inception of those services. The P&MSR operates and maintains chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance instruments and offers services such as experimental design and consultation, sample preparation and chromatography, protein or metabolite identification and quantification, protein modification characterization, targeted protein or metabolite quantification, metabolic flux analysis, and data analysis and informatics support. The mission of the P&MSR is (1) to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and reliable service in a timely manner for proteomics and metabolomics experiments; (2) to develop and implement new omics experiments, assays, and tools to uncover the molecular details influencing cancer biology; (3) to support the development of translatable and clinical tests. Since the last renewal, P&MSR has added three additional mass spectrometers to upgrade instrumentation capabilities and to add capacity. Additionally, P&MSR has added a staff member to support growing proteomics bioinformatics and data analysis needs and an additional staff member to support proteomics operations. The P&MSR co-directors and staff fully engage with users through consultation in designing and implementing experiments and analyzing and interpretating results. Furthermore, assistance is provided with writing manuscripts, grant content, and presentations. To attract new users and to fully educate current ones, P&MSR offers a variety of training opportunities, including drop-in meetings, a 15- hour proteomics course, and multi-day metabolomics symposia and gatherings. New technologies and services are continually being evaluated based on feedback from Consortium members. The future direction of P&MSR is strongly influenced by direct user feedback, annual survey results, input from Faculty Advisory Committees, and evaluating future plans in relationship to the Consortium’s strategic plan. Over the next granting period, areas of interest that will be investigated will be ion mobility gas-phase separations to enhance immunopeptide detection, data-independent acquisition proteomic methods, non-mass spectrometry-based proteomics technologies, limited sample (down to single cell) metabolomics as well as new and expanded metabolomics assays. Management and oversight processes common to all Shared Resources are described in detail in the Shared Resource Management (SRM) component of the application. Consortium users have cost-effective, reliable, and immediate access to the P&MSR. Research supported by P&MSR demonstrates that it is an important part of the critical Shared Resources infrastructure needed to support the Consortium.