SBIR Phase II: Comprehensive Database Resource on Protein Localization

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project proposes to develop the database and associated software to enable analysis of protein trafficking and localization. The system will be designed to enable drug discovery researchers to identify, elucidate, eliminate and design leads and targets, while facilitating the general training of researchers. During the Phase I work, proteins involved in trafficking and diseases related to mislocalization were identified, and a relational database to house information on protein trafficking was constructed. Curation interface applications were created to allow remote data entry, and graphical user interfaces designed to maximize the utility of the information. The objective of this Phase II Project is to exhaustively populate the database from the primary journal literature. Selection of proteins involved in protein trafficking will be guided by relevant human diseases and corresponding drug discovery efforts. The commercial application of this project is in the area of biological informatics. The potential users of the biological database to be developed in this project would include pharmaceutical and drug discovery companies.