New protein technology breakthrough

(l-r) Dr Parekh, Professor Newell, and Professor Dwek

Oxford scientists will be the first to use advanced new `Proteograph' technology, which will produce and analyse graphic displays of protein changes, to study common diseases such as arthritis and immune disorders. The new technology, developed by Oxford GlycoSciences (OGS), involves an automated, robotically-controlled apparatus, separating and visualising the many hundreds of proteins found in human cells accurately and highly reproducibly, and analysing their structure rapidly by mass spectroscopy. The Head of the Biochemistry Department, Professor Peter Newell, said the new technology would greatly facilitate the finding of molecular and diagnostic targets for debilitating and wide spread diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Mr Michael Kranda, the Chief Executive of OGS, said he was delighted that his company, founded as a `spin-off' from the Department of Biochemistry, would be the first to apply the new `Proteograph' technology in conjunction with University members. The new studies will be based within the Glycobiology Institute, a sub-department of the Biochemistry Department, under the Director, Professor Raymond Dwek, aided by a scientific advisory committee including Professor Baruch Blumberg, formerly Master of Balliol, Professor Edwin Southern of the Department of Biochemistry, Professor Max Burger of OGS's Scientific Advisory Board and Dr Raj Parekh, OGS Research Director.