SBIR Phase I: Targeting Low Abundance Proteomics: Selective Enrichment in Combined Displacement Chromatography and Isotachophoresis

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop and demonstrate a multidimensional protein/peptide separation/concentration platform, capable of reducing the range of relative protein abundances by "balancing" or "leveling" the concentrations of the protein complement. Such selective enhancement toward low abundance proteins can drastically reduce the range of relative protein abundances in complex samples and significantly enhance the dynamic range and sensitivity of conventional mass spectrometry toward global proteomic studies using small cell populations or limited tissue samples. The commercial application of this project is in the area of proteomics. The development of the proposed bioanalytical methodologies are expected to be valuable in screening / drug discovery efforts by bio-pharmaceutical companies.