Table 1.

Objectives of a Plasma Proteome Project

1. Comprehensive quantitative analysis of serum and plasma protein constituents in humans based on studies involving large population cohorts throughout the world.

2. Elucidation of protein subsets that vary with biological parameters including age and sex.

3. Elucidation of ethnic and other inherited quantitative variation in plasma proteins.

4. Elucidation of protein subsets that vary with diet and with common exposures.

5. Identification of changes in circulating proteins that correlate with health determinants including, nutritional status, smoking and alcohol intake.

6. Identification of circulating protein markers that may predict the onset or risk for major common diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurologic disease.

7. Development of a plasma proteome knowledge base.

8. Development of affinity capture agents for circulating proteins.

9. Development of proteotypic peptides for cleaved and modified proteins forms that occur in serum and plasma.

10. Development of standardized specimen reference sets to be made available to investigators.