Congratulations to Kathryn Lilley who has been presented with the Human Proteome Organisation's Award for Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences.
Proteomics is the study of all the proteins within a given sample, from cells in culture to clinical tissue biopsies. Analysis of the changes in the abundance of proteins, their biochemical modification, and binding partners within a cell are key to understanding the biological processes and mechanisms associated with disease.
In receiving this award, Kathryn and her co-workers at the Cambridge Centre for Proteomics have been acknowledged for their work in developing innovative multidisciplinary methods that enable the location of proteins within the intricate subcellular niches of cells to be determined. Through Kathryn's work, these 'addresses' can now be simultaneously captured for thousands of proteins per experiment. Application of these methods is shedding light on cellular processes that involve a change of address for a protein, and also on how the re-localisation of faulty proteins can be involved in diseases.
Unexpectedly, the methods developed in the Lilley Group are unearthing the extent of protein 'moonlighting'. The role a protein plays within a cell is known for a great many proteins, but increasingly we are discovering that proteins carry out multiple, and sometimes totally unrelated, jobs within a cell.
Speaking about the award, Kathryn said: "These are exciting times for protein biochemistry as we start to uncover the functional complexity of the proteome. I am thrilled to win this award and see it as an award to my whole lab, both current and past members, and collaborators who have worked tirelessly over the years to develop and establish novel proteomics methodologies."
The Human Proteome Organisation (HUPO) is an international society supporting research in the field of proteomics. The Organisation presents awards annually at their World Congress to recognise the outstanding efforts and achievements of individuals (or research groups) in the field of proteomics. The Distinguished Achievement in Proteomic Sciences Award specifically recognises a scientist for distinguished scientific achievements in the field of proteomic science.