SINGLE CELL proteomics initiative

Human cellular protein expression is defined by its heterogeneity down to the single cell-level, a fact patently clear by histology, but largely unaddressed and even convoluted by conventional proteomics. Yet this cellular heterogeneity is fundamentally important, reflecting essential processes in cellular and organismal physiology and disease. These include critical variation across tissue localization, cell-cycle, exposure to external stimuli, functional polarization, differentiation status, disease state, and response to therapeutics. To capture and understand this protein-level cellular heterogeneity, the field of Single-Cell Proteomics (SCP) has recently experienced vast developments. Due to recent technological and methodological advances in this area, we are now able to study the proteomes of single human cells, in an unbiassed fashion using mass spectrometry. The nascent SCP field has been expanding exponentially over the past 3-4 years, with at least 2 separate conferences per year (SCP, Boston and ESCP, Vienna), and dedicated at HUPO and ASMS. Moreover, in 2022 the first SCP HUPO pre-conference course was organized in Cancun, Mexico and planned pre-conference course for HUPO in Busan, Korea.

Current lines of work:

The goal of the Single-Cell Initiative under the Biology and Disease-Driven Human Proteome Project, launched in 2022, is fostering the development and application of SCP methods and technologies. The initiative aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and resources within established and newly interested SCP researchers. The initiative organizes webinars, workshops, and symposia to showcase the latest advances, and challenges in SCP complemented by generating dedicated resources.