This report serves as a benchmark as it presents insights into the most current areas of investigation in protein and proteomic research. Initial protein studies revolved around the identification and characterization of single proteins and the investigation of their corresponding genes. Today, modern technology and discovery have presented open-ended opportunities for high-throughput profiling and interaction studies of proteins and other biomolecules. The objectives of this report are to explore the types of research conducted by protein scientists and the most common biomolecules studied, and better understand the techniques and products used for analysis. Proteomics is a complex field of research incorporating multiple stages and utilizing various techniques and technologies - from the initial expression and purification of a protein to the study of various biomolecular interactions and how they are involved in cellular processes. During each stage, it is important to understand the types of experiments conducted, the significance of the research, the techniques utilized to conduct the research, and the interpretations and implications of the results. Companies interested in creating products and sophisticated technology to meet the demands of this fast paced research must understand and address the needs of scientists engaged in both small- and large-scale areas of this research. Protein scientists engaged in small-scale research primarily focus their investigations on expression profiles, pathway analysis, protein folding and 3-D structure analyses, and the application of bioinformatics to study the proteomic data. Industrial scientists engaged in large-scale analysis conduct similar research but require high-throughput capability, automation, and the means for conducting multiple, simultaneous analyses. The final report is based on the opinions of a worldwide panel of research scientists. It provides you with the answers needed to better serve the protein science market and is available at a fraction of what it would cost to conduct a custom study similar in size and scope. The Protein Science Benchmarking Study is designed as the first installment in our series - which details all aspects of protein research - and specifically focuses on presenting insights into the most current areas of interest. Proteomics is the new evolution of genomics. By cracking the proteome of a given system, scientists will be able to unfold the mysteries behind molecular and cellular functions. Examples of current applications include the identification of novel gene products, the investigation of protein expression patterns, and the mapping of protein-protein interaction sites. Future proteomic research is expected to yield insights into drug design and improved diagnostic techniques and therapies. Report Highlights More than 1,000 researchers engaged in protein science participated in this study between September 4 and December 3, 2001. The report details findings for each and every question in the survey. Below is a glimpse of some of the findings derived from different questions: • "Antibodies" is the most common class of proteins that is studied followed by "membrane proteins" and then "signal transduction proteins." • Most of the participants' research is conducted with human-, mouse- and rat-derived proteins. • The primary research objective of the majority of the scientists surveyed is "identifying/ characterizing protein-protein or peptide-protein interactions." • The top two cutting-edge proteomics technologies that these scientists are considering using are liquid-phase separation techniques (other than 2D gel electrophoresis) and protein chips. • Academic scientists would like the life sciences industry to focus on improving current separation and detection methods that would enable them to analyze closer to 100% of the proteome. (Electronic copy also includes 1 print copy) | 
