Gel-based Proteomics: a practical course

The proteomics laboratories of Porto Conte Ricerche are equipped with a wide range of instruments and facilities for protein extraction, separation and analysis. Numerous electrophoretic devices are present, enabling SDS-PAGE, 2D-PAGE and 2D DIGE in formats ranging from 7 cm (BioRad Tetra cells), to 11 cm (BioRad Criterion cells), up to 24 cm (GE Healthcare instrumentation). Several choices are provided for protein detection, from visual staining with coomassie or silver and digitalization with scanning techniques (ImageScanner III), to imaging of fluorescent and chemiluminescent signals (BioRad Versadoc MP and Ge Healthcare Typhoon Trio+). Different image analysis softwares are also available (GE Healthcare ImageMaster Platinum and DeCyder, BioRad QuantyOne and PDQuest).For more information on the equipment of the single laboratories, click to download the PDF below.

 Porto Conte RicerchePorto Conte Ricerche, established in 1995, is a subsidiary of Sardegna Ricerche, the public agency that supports the Regional Administration in its policies and actions fostering research, innovation and technology development. The company manages the local centre of the Technology Park of Sardinia in Alghero.Porto Conte Ricerche currently hosts 21 enterprises and organizations operating in the following sectors: ICTs, Biomedicine, Health technologies and Industrial biotechnologies, employing about 80 staff overall. Owned by the University of Sassari, the Research Centre covers an area of 3.5 ha including 11,000 m² of indoor areas, with three separate modern buildings surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. Two buildings house labs, offices, plants and equipments, the library, meeting rooms, a videoconferencing room, classrooms and facilities; the third building hosts the Auditorium, a guest house, and a cafeteria.  EuPAThe European Proteomics Association (EuPA) is the federation of European national proteomics societies. It has been established to coordinate and integrate national initiatives within the proteomics field. The main objectives are to strengthen and promote fundamental research and applications, as well as education and training in all areas of proteomics throughout Europe. EuPA is a non-profit organization.Current EuPA country members are: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and UK.  Regione SardegnaSardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia is one of the five Italian autonomous regions the only region administered by special statute of autonomy. This statute, second only to the Italian Constitution, gives the region the right to create its own laws in a wide number of domains and to carry out regional administrative functions.Regione Sardegna,  is investing  into R&D programs focusing on specific  key-areas such as ICT, Alternative Energy, Biotechnologies and Biomedicine, aiming at enhancing the social and economic development of the Island. Three Summer Schools are being supported by  Regione Sardegna this year, as well as  a number of different training activities, with the aim to establish permanently these International Schools and have them cross-linked with other training programs available abroad.   Sardinia Science and Technology ParkOriginating from the joint commitment of the Autonomous Regional Government of Sardinia and the European Union, Polaris, the Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, is a system of advanced facilities and services fostering innovation, development and the industrialization of research. The Park is managed by Sardegna Ricerche – the regional R&TD agency which set it up. With two main centers and more than 60 tenant companies and research canters, it is one of the largest science parks in Italy, ranking first among Italian technology parks as to number of biotech tenants. Polaris specializes in three areas: Information and Communication Technologies, Biotechnologies and Renewable energies. The Park promotes the region’s economic development by leveraging on technology innovation and knowledge. It supports companies, research centers and agencies wishing to carry out research and experimental production in their respective sectors. In particular, it is open to entrepreneurs and researchers wishing to set up new companies or pursue innovative projects exploiting the results of research.  

Peter James - Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, SwedenProfessor of Protein Technology at Lund University and SWEGENE Director of Proteomics.He graduated from Oxford University and completed his PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1990.After a two year post-doc in USCF, San Francisco and in ThermoFinnigan, San Jose he returned to the ETH. He moved to take the chair in Proteomics at Lund University in 2001.He has published over 150 peer reviewed articles and reviews in the field of protein chemistry and proteomics and holds 7 patents in proteomics methodologies.He is a member of Founding Board of the Human Proteome Organisation – HUPO, and chairman of the Education Committee of the European Proteomics Association – EuPA.He is on the editorial Boards of the four leading Proteomics journals.His research field is protein analysis with a focus on protein-protein interaction, membrane proteins and methods development for clinical proteomics.The main focus currently is on diagnosis and therapy outcome prediction for breast cancer and on defining plasma membrane protein targets for directed antibody therapy. Reiner Westermeier - SERVA Electrophoresis GmbHMarketing Scientist at SERVA Electrophoresis GmbH.He gained his doctorate in 1981 at the Technical University of Munich, Germany;there he remained engaged in the development of new electrophoresis systems and applications until 1983, a period that also involved several international collaborations and lecturing tours.From 1984 to 1990 he was electrophoresis products and applications specialist at LKB Instrument GmbH and at Pharmacia Biotech.He co-founded ETC Elektrophorese-Technik in 1991 for the development of new electrophoresis methods, media, and equipment.From January 1996 to July 1997 he was manager of scientific support Europe at Pharmacia Biotech in Freiburg, Germany.He has been at Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, later GE Healthcare since July 1997, and its Senior Scientist for Proteomics since January 2002, giving also lectures, seminars, and courses on various methodologies used in Proteomics on a global basis.Then he worked as a scientific marketing director at gelcompany, a novel company formed from ETC Elektrophorese-Technik, Fluorotechnics Ltd., and The Gelcompany.Author of several publications, book chapters, and two books (“Electrophoresis in Practice” and, together with Tom Naven and Hans-Rudolf Hoepker, “Proteomics in Practice”) and co-editor with Rainer Cramer of “Difference Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) Methods and protocols”.The professional interests are methodical developments and improvements, as well as application developments and troubleshooting within the area of separation and evaluation techniques used in Proteomics.