were focused on Proteome analysis (strategies) and Methods for Protein
characterization (mainly MS and bioinformatics). Nothing really new if one has
followed a couple of ABRF and ASMS conferences, except that the presentations'
format (30 min by speaker) allows for a more relaxed and detailed lecture than
at these conferences. Also, since these sessions were only focused on protein
work, the presentation's quality was certainly high and very informative. On day
two, the morning session was devoted for applications to drugs discovery and
showed an extremely interesting view on how pharmaceutical companies and other
try to take advantage of these new tools for their research. This was a in my
view a very valuable session as this shows initial efforts and results that
indicates, in a very practical manner, what can be done and what remains to be
accomplished (in short, a lot!). Finally, the "post-conference" workshop should
have been targeted at unique challenges to Bioinformatics in Proteomics. This
session was fairly disappointing as most of the speakers limited themselves to
present specific bioinformatics products and used the workshop as an
advertisment platform ... However, I heard from the IBC organization that the
workshop format will be modified for its next issue.
In short, the Proteomics conference was fairly good in quality. Is it worth the
money? If you have attented recent ABRF and ASMS meetings, you might find that
there will be less new material that you would expect. However, because the
conference is uniquely focused on metods and strategies in Proteomics,
long-term prospects can be effectively discussed (in short, where are we going
to and where should we heading for). The conference is worth the money if you
are heavily involved in the Proteomics business and if you have to decide of
the technical and informatics format your lab should consider in the following
years. However, do not expect to find any dramatically new concepts or ideas.
The ABRF and ASMS will remain predominant in these areas.
Axel Ducret
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Axel Ducret, Ph.D.
Senior Research Biologist
Merck-Frosst Canada Inc.
Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
P.O. Box 1005
Pointe-Claire-Dorval PQ H9R 4P8
Canada
tel. + (514) 428-3428
fax + (514) 428-4900