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The June HUPOST edition is out now! It’s packed with vital news and updates, including information on HUPO 2024 the IAB Spotlight, Council Elections, New Job Postings, ETC and ECR Activities, and more!

In this new monthly feature, we will be highlighting extraordinary HUPO volunteers who lead and support many of HUPO's various Committees, Initiatives and Working Groups. If you would like to volunteer with HUPO, please connect with the HUPO Office.

HUPO Marketing and Outreach Committee (MOC)

The MOC has been at work developing new ways to promote the HUPO mission, the visibility of proteomics within the scientific community and its popularization among the public, as well as gathering funding support. The MOC has been very successful in networking with other HUPO Committees and Initiatives and using a range of tools and activities. The MOC members are from different fields and backgrounds and at various career stages representing the diversity of HUPO.

Charlotte Hutchings is a third-year PhD student at the Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, University of Cambridge. She applies expression and subcellular spatial proteomics methods to study the effect of viral production, specifically that of adeno-associated viruses, on cells. Charlotte is also very interested in bioinformatics and big data which has led her to write and teach workflow publications and workshops. Having found a love for proteomics, Charlotte has become an active member of the community and acts as the student representative for the British Society for Proteome Research (BSPR), Vice Chair of Online Activities for the HUPO Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee and has more recently become involved in the HUPO Marketing and Outreach (MOC) Committee.

Theodora Katsila is a Senior Researcher-Head of the Biomarker Discovery & Translational Research laboratory at the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Greece. Craving for brain teasers (and being loyal to her motto: from information to actionable insights), she is strongly interested in translational biomarkers and proteoform-based drug repurposing. Mining the chemical biology space, Theodora aims to catalyze the transition from serendipity-driven to data-driven translational precision medicine. This paradigm shift comes with a need for biomarker-guided trial design and patient-centric companion diagnostics. For this, Theodora applies mass spectrometry-based multi-omics and data science.

Conor McCafferty is a Program Manager at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, where he coordinates and oversees the body of cancer research performed at the institute and the adjoining Royal Children’s Hospital. He has worked with proteomic technologies to investigate biomarkers of disease and completed his PhD investigating the relationship between thrombosis and COVID-19 in children from the University of Melbourne in 2022, which included proteomic analysis of patients with different COVID-19 outcomes. Conor joined the HUPO Marketing and Outreach Committee in 2019 and additionally sits as a board director of the Australian Society for Medical Research. He has a passion for solving clinical challenges (particularly in pediatrics) and works to develop coordinated research and multi-omic strategies to improve clinical outcomes.

The Initiative for Model Organism Proteomics (iMOP) unveils an exciting webinar titled "Exploring New Model Organisms and Unraveling Protein Mysteries."

Mark your calendars for May 21st and get ready to explore the world of proteomics and learn how it's revolutionizing our understanding of molecular mechanisms in a range of new model organisms. Join them on this journey as they shed light on how these discoveries can boost human health, safeguard the environment, and preserve biodiversity. See further webinar details on the flyer below. 

Zoom Meeting Link Here

In a new feature of the monthly HUPOST newsletter, extraordinary HUPO volunteers who lead and support many of HUPO's various Committees, Initiatives and Working Groups, are highlighted.  If you would like to volunteer with HUPO, please connect with the HUPO Office.

HUPO Marketing and Outreach Committee (MOC)
The MOC has been at work developing new ways to promote the HUPO mission, the visibility of proteomics within the scientific community and its popularization among the public, as well as gathering funding support.  MOC members are from different fields and backgrounds and at various career stages representing the diversity of HUPO.

The May HUPOST features the following MOC volunteers:

Qian Zhao is an Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU). She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Hong Kong in 2012 and then joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2017, she joined HK PolyU as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Proteomics. She currently serves as an Editorial Board member for Molecular & Cellular Proteomics and a council member in HUPO. Her research group investigates functional peptides with mass spectrometry, including non-canonical peptides translated from small open reading frames and immunopeptides. Qian holds the view that the peptidome, a subset of the proteome, holds significant promise. Her work is centered around creating new ways to find and understand these peptides, with the ultimate aim of using their potential to develop new treatments for diseases.

Nobuaki Takemori is a Senior Assistant Professor at Ehime University. He received his B.Sc. degree in Material Science in 1997 from Nagoya Institute of Technology (Japan) and his Ph.D. degree in Material Science in 2002 from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Japan). After postdoctoral research from 2002 to 2009 in the US and Japan, he joined the faculty at Ehime University as a Research Assistant Professor in 2010 and was promoted to Senior Assistant Professor with tenure in 2012. He is currently a Council Member of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) and the Japanese Proteomics Society (JPrOS) and serves as the Chief Editor of Proteome Letters, the official journal of JPrOS.

His research group is focused on developing new proteomics technologies and their application to clinical biomarker discovery. In his own laboratory, he has developed an innovative method for the synthesis of stable isotope-labeled proteins using a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system in addition to establishing a high-throughput synthesis platform. Awarded the Young Investigator Award from JPrOS in 2018 for his pioneering work in the development of quantitative proteomics technologies using a wheat germ cell-free synthesis system, his technique has been extremely useful for the production of high-quality internal standard proteins in the quantitative analysis of targeted proteins by mass spectrometry, resulting in a unique impact in the field of quantitative proteomics. In recent years, he has also been actively engaged in the development of sample preparation techniques for top-down proteomics. He has successfully developed PEPPI-MS, a high-resolution fractionation technique for intact proteoforms using SDS-PAGE, and is now conducting research on top-down proteomics at high depth by combining PEPPI-MS with an ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry system.

Upendra Chalise is a postdoctoral fellow at Dr. Jop van Berlo's lab in the University of Minnesota, where he studies cardiovascular physiology after sterile cardiac injury such as myocardial infarction and transaortic constriction in murine model. He uses cellular and plasma proteomics techniques to identify markers that can predict future progression of cardiac remodeling. His graduate work has utilized various proteomic approaches in identifying and validation potential markers and functional targets to improve cardiac outcomes after myocardial infarction. He has continued his work in his postdoctoral training in modulating inflammatory and extracellular matrix proteins to prevent adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure progression. He is actively working to regulate immune responses after cardiac injury through identification of protein targets. Upendra currently serves as a member of the HUPO Marketing and Outreach Committee and in the Trainee Advisory Sub Committee of the Cardiovascular section of the American Physiological Society. Besides cardiovascular research, Upendra is passionate about improving academia for trainees and actively advocates for changes within academia.

This early career achievement award seeks to honor early career researchers who have had an exceptional impact on the proteomics field and community. This impact can take the shape of publications, patents obtained, development of a commercial product, establishment of a symposium, workshop, course, training program or any other meaningful contributions or service to the field of proteomics. The winner of the award will give a short presentation during the closing ceremony of HUPO 2024 and take home a cash prize of $2000. To participate, candidates can self-nominate or be nominated. Click here to learn more about how to apply, eligibility criteria, and prizes.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 10th, 2024

Get ready to put your research in the spotlight at HUPO 2024 with our exciting poster competition sponsored by Molecular Omics! To participate, simply indicate your interest in the competition when submitting your abstract. It's as easy as checking a box!

Fifteen outstanding abstracts from graduate students and postdocs will be selected as

finalists, based on the quality of their abstracts. These finalists will have the opportunity to present their posters during the conference, where they'll be evaluated by a jury of experts. Winners in both categories (graduate students and postdocs) will each receive a cash prize of USD$200, while four runners-up will be awarded USD$100.

As a bonus, submitted abstracts have the opportunity to be selected for a short talk at the day of the research initiatives. This is your chance to showcase your research findings, innovative methodologies, and exciting discoveries to a global audience!

Submit your abstract here today!

Can you condense your thesis in three minutes? Join us at the 3-Minute Thesis Competition, in collaboration with the HUPO Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee and the Human Proteome Project (HPP). Presenting your thesis allows you to highlight the significance and impact of your research.

To participate submit a lay abstract through the HUPO 2024 abstract submission portal . Craft your abstract without scientific jargon, ensuring it's easily understood by a general, non-expert audience.

Finalists will be selected based on their abstracts to present their thesis topic, using a single static slide during a session at HUPO 2024.

This competition provides an opportunity for you to present your work in a brief but engaging format, fostering discussions and collaborations with fellow researchers from around the world.

Let your creativity shine as you describe your thesis research topic in 300 words or less!

DATE: Thursday, April 25, 2024
TIME: 4 am PDT/ 7 am EDT/ 1 pm CEST 
SPEAKERS: Dina Schuster (Utrecht University), Janaina Silva (University of Sao Paulo), Yun-Jung Yang (Taipei Medical University). 

REGISTER HERE

Webinar Description: During this event, the three winners of the 2023 3-Minute Thesis Competition will present their thesis in a more detailed format, share their experiences from the competition, and provide some advice for future participants. After the presentations, there will be a Q&A session. If you are interested in participating in this year's 3-Minute Thesis Competition at the congress, be sure to attend this webinar.

REGISTER HERE

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We are thrilled to invite you to the 33rd workshop of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Brain Proteomics Project. This exciting event will bring together leading researchers, scientists, and experts from around the world to discuss groundbreaking advancements in the field of brain proteomics.

CONFERENCE DETAILS:

DATE: May 22-24, 2024
LOCATION: Lawlor's of Naas, Poplar Square, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

REGISTER HERE

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: The meeting program focuses on alternative and transformative frameworks for understanding CNS disorders and the use of enhanced and newly emerging tools for experimental measurement and manipulation. Presenters will share research techniques and experimental designs they applied to elucidate the biological pathways and markers associated with psychiatric and neurodegenerative symptoms and CNS disorders.

CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH:  Explore the latest discoveries and innovations in brain proteomics, including the identification and characterization of proteins crucial to understanding brain function and diseases.

Our speakers are internationally recognized experts. We have keynote speakers and several unique sessions covering hot topics on functional proteomics, biofluidomics, plus our sessions on ad-vances in neurodegenerative disorders and neuroproteomics in drug discovery and development.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Engage with renowned scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of proteomics and brain research.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

• Dr. Chris Whelan, Director, Neuroscience, Data Science & Digital Health, Janssen Research & Development, LLC and lead of the collaboration and corresponding author of the Nature paper sharing preliminary findings from the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (UKB-PPP, Nature 2023; 622(7982): 329–338.PMID:37794186)
• Prof. Robert McCullumsmith, Department Chair at The University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences
• Prof. Daniel Martins-de Souza, Associate Professor and Head of Proteomics, Dept of Biochemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
• Prof. Katrin Marcus, Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Proteindiagnostics (PRODI), Ruhr-University Bochum

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: Connect with fellow researchers, build new collaborations, and strengthen your professional network.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: We welcome abstract submissions on a wide range of topics related to brain proteomics, including but not limited to:

• Biofluidomics
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Neuropsychiatric Disorders
• Biomarker Discovery
• Neuroproteomics in drug discovery and development

Please submit your abstract by April 30, 2024

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:  For registration and additional details, please visit our conference website: https://hbpp2024.sciencesconf.org/

Join us in advancing the field of brain proteomics and unravelling the mysteries of the human brain. We look forward to your participation in this landmark event.

The April HUPOST edition is now available.....filled with important news and information including HUPO 2024 congress updates, upcoming ETC webinars and ECR competitions, summer internship opportunities, IAB Member (CIL, Inc.) and volunteer spotlights, the CPTAC Survey, MCP's new Editor-in-Chief....and much more!