Tadashi Yamamoto, Former chair and current co-chair Niigata University, JAPAN.
John M Arthur, Current chair, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ,USA.
The first-generation HKUPP was established as the 11th initiative in the World HUPO Congress by gathering about 40 researchers from around the world in 2007 with the following missions:
- To facilitate proteome analysis and foster proteomics researchers in nephrology.
- To understand kidney functions and pathophysiology of human kidney diseases
- To provide kidney and urine proteome databases for discovery of biomarkers and drug targets.
In the next 10 years (2007-2017), the HKUPP members had several meetings during the World HUPO Congresses and the American Society of Nephrology meetings to exchange the data and information on proteomic analysis of kidney tissue and urine samples. As a contribution to urine proteomics researchers, we proposed a guide or recommendation of how to collect and store urine samples suitable for proteome analysis (Sci Transl Med. 2010 Aug 25;2(46):46ps42. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3001249.). Proteome data of urine samples and kidney tissues from normal healthy volunteers were also collected and made available in the HKUPP website (www.hkupp.org). Comparison of the proteomes of these tissues and plasma/urine provided tissue(-compartment)-unique proteins, as well as urinary proteins uniquely derived from these tissues. Those proteins were therefore expected to be proteins that might play specific roles in these tissues, or proteins which might indicate pathological events.
In 2017 the new chair of HKUPP, Prof. John M Arthur started to re-organize the HKUPP team to promote the second-generation project to apply the current advanced techniques and instruments to clinical samples. Samples such as kidney biopsy specimens and patient urine will be useful to understand pathology and to establish urine biomarkers for clinical assessment (Fig.1).
In 2019 we had a meeting in Washington DC during the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2019 to discuss the plans related to the 2nd generation HKUPP and the possibility for collaborative grant application such as RC2 of NIH to facilitate the international activities of the HKUPP initiative.
Figure. 1 Promotion of HKUPP activities from the 1st generation to the 2nd generation: From basic science to clinical contributions
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