Proteomics
Proteomics uses mass spectrometry, affinity assays, and computational analysis to quantify protein abundance, post-translational modifications, and interactions in host and pathogen. In military medicine it drives rapid biomarker discovery and validation for sepsis, blast injury, infection surveillance, and therapeutic target identification to support expeditionary and prolonged-field care.
Technical Challenges
Heterogeneity of protein expression across individuals, injury types, and infection stages complicates biomarker reproducibility.
Limited sensitivity and speed for low-abundance proteins in complex biological matrices under austere, point-of-care conditions.
Data integration and standardization gaps: proteomic datasets require harmonized pipelines for clinical decision support and regulatory acceptance.
Translating discovery proteomics to robust, field-deployable assays (assay robustness, cold-chain independence, and assay turnaround) is difficult.
Emerging Opportunities
Rapid, multiplexed proteomic assays validated for point-of-care use in prolonged and delayed-evacuation scenarios.
Standardized reference materials and pipelines that enable cross-site reproducibility and regulatory submission.
Validated protein biomarkers linked to actionable treatment algorithms for hemorrhage, infection, TBI, and polytrauma.
Integrated proteogenomic platforms that combine protein and genomic data for bedside prognostics and precision therapeutics.
Current and Emerging Technologies in Proteomics
High-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Gold-standard discovery and quantitative proteomics for label-free and labeled workflows; supports biomarker discovery, PTM mapping, and pathogen proteomics.
Targeted proteomics (SRM/PRM, MRM)
Highly sensitive, quantitative assays for validated biomarkers enabling clinical-grade measurements and potential point-of-care translation.
Affinity platforms and aptamer assays
Antibody arrays, aptamer-based panels, and proximity assays yield multiplexed readouts with simplified workflows suitable for near-patient use.
Single-cell and spatial proteomics
Emerging methods reveal cellular heterogeneity and local tissue responses after blast, infection, or ischemia—important for targeted regenerative and reconstructive therapies.
Proteomics informatics and AI
Machine learning for pattern recognition, proteogenomics integration, and predictive modeling to support diagnostics, prognosis, and tactical medical decision support.
Importance to Military Medicine
Combat casualty care
Provides biomarkers for hemorrhage, coagulopathy, TBI, and polytrauma to guide triage, transfusion, and damage-control resuscitation.
Prolonged and austere care
Enables remote monitoring of infection, organ dysfunction, and therapeutic response when evacuation is delayed or resources are limited.
Force readiness and infectious disease surveillance
Detects subclinical infection, vaccine response, and antimicrobial resistance patterns to preserve unit readiness and inform biodefense strategies.
Therapeutics and regenerative medicine
Identifies druggable protein targets and monitors biologic therapies for wound repair and reconstruction after catastrophic injury.
Alignment with the MTEC Mission
Accelerates translation of proteomic biomarkers into deployable diagnostics and therapeutics consistent with MTEC’s mission to field military-relevant medical technologies rapidly.
Supports cross-disciplinary consortia combining academic discovery, industry scale-up, and DoD clinical validation to shorten development timelines.
Enables dual-use outcomes where civilian public health and battlefield medicine benefit from shared biomarker and diagnostic platforms.
Dual-Use (Military + Civilian) Applications
Dual-use diagnostics: proteomic assays developed for field use can scale to civilian hospitals for sepsis and infectious disease surveillance.
Therapeutic development: protein targets identified in trauma research inform civilian regenerative medicine and orphan-disease therapeutics.
Public health and biodefense: proteomic surveillance platforms serve outbreak response both for deployed forces and the broader population.
Commercialization pathway synergy: assays that meet DoD robustness criteria often accelerate civilian regulatory acceptance and market adoption.
Explore MTEC Members with Proteomics Capabilities
MTEC members bring complementary strengths—academic proteomics discovery, industry assay engineering, clinical trial execution, and DoD clinical access—enabling end-to-end development from biomarker discovery to field-ready diagnostics.
Consortium collaboration supports rapid prototyping, standardized multicenter validation, and regulatory strategy to get proteomic solutions into deployed care faster.
Explore MTEC member profiles to identify partners with mass-spec capability, assay commercialization experience, bioinformatics expertise, and clinical trial networks ready to advance proteomics for military and civilian impact.
117 Members with Proteomics capabilities.
The University of Texas System is a leading public university system in the United States, dedicated to improving lives through education, health care, and research. With over 256,000 students enrolled across 14 institutions, the UT System is committed to providing affordable access to higher education and producing a skilled workforce to drive Texas's economy.
Volta Labs develops automated sample preparation solutions for genomic and sequencing workflows. The company's platform enables walk-away sample prep for a wide variety of sample types and is compatible across multiple NGS and long-read sequencing technologies. Their system focuses on operational efficiency, robust performance, and high-quality output for DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation, and target enrichment.
Georgia Southern University is a vibrant institution with over 26,100 students across three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. The university offers 132 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels, emphasizing student success, community impact, and research excellence. With a commitment to inclusivity and engagement, Georgia Southern fosters a supportive environment for diverse learners, including military-affiliated and adult students. The university is dedicated to transforming lives through education and community engagement, aligning its programs with regional needs. Additionally, Georgia Southern provides accelerated pathways for students to fast-track their master's degrees, enhancing educational opportunities. The university also emphasizes career readiness and public impact research, preparing students for successful careers and contributing to community development.
Nuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is an employee-owned company dedicated to inventing, demonstrating, and translating technologies that address critical national needs in defense, security, healthcare, and environmental stewardship. With over 50 years of experience, PSI combines extensive research and development capabilities with a commitment to innovation and customer focus.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research, teaching, and community engagement. As a premier public research university, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a catalyst for socioeconomic development, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
Auburn University Research & Economic Development is dedicated to advancing research and economic growth through a collaborative effort among its various colleges and departments. The organization focuses on fostering innovation, supporting faculty and student research, and facilitating partnerships with industry and government to address societal challenges and enhance the quality of life. Recent initiatives include the launch of the Team Science Series to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of the Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station to address coastal environmental challenges.
Seek Labs is a biotechnology company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and delivering universal healthcare solutions. The company specializes in next-generation point-of-care molecular diagnostics and programmable CRISPR-based therapeutics, aiming to bridge the gap between disease outbreak and intervention. Powered by its proprietary AI discovery engine, BioSeeker™, Seek Labs is building a modular, full-stack system that enables rapid response to emerging pathogens, scalable precision treatments, and accessible diagnostics. The company is committed to global health innovation, sustainability, and community engagement, and is a proud member of Utah's BioHive life sciences ecosystem. Seek Labs' mission is to empower individuals with healthcare solutions tailored to their specific needs, revolutionizing the detection and treatment of diseases for both human and animal health.
The Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R) at the University of Arkansas is dedicated to pioneering solutions to complex societal challenges through convergence research. With a mission to advance research excellence and stimulate economic development, I3R focuses on deploying innovations at scale through collaboration across various sectors, including academia, industry, and government.
UTMB is dedicated to supporting research, education, and scholarly endeavors, with a focus on creating the future of healthcare through innovative research and community engagement.
Vindhya Data Science is a women-owned small business headquartered in North Carolina, USA, with a presence in RTP and Boston. We specialize in bioinformatics, genomics, artificial intelligence, and data engineering, cheminformatics, evidence-based medicine, epidemiology and related disciplines. Vindhya partners with federal government agencies, leading academic medical centers, and pharma/biotech organizations to transform large datasets into informed decisions using advanced data science technologies. With over 100 years of combined experience, 150+ publications, and 73+ successful projects, Vindhya is committed to delivering impactful solutions in the life sciences sector.
Zeteo Tech is a venture-backed biodefense and medical device company that has developed a revolutionary new class of fieldable biological mass spectrometers. Their technology identifies airborne microbes, proteins, and lipids, enabling rapid screening for infectious diseases and bio-threats. With a focus on cost-effective solutions, Zeteo Tech aims to enhance biodefense capabilities and improve patient screening for diseases like tuberculosis.
The University of Chicago is a prestigious urban research university committed to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom. Founded in 1890, it has produced numerous Nobel laureates and is known for its transformative education and groundbreaking research across various fields. The university fosters an inclusive and diverse learning environment, encouraging participation from all community members.
Boston University is a major research institution committed to leading breakthroughs across various disciplines. The Office of Research supports and advances research excellence, fostering collaboration among researchers, industry partners, and government leaders to address significant societal challenges.
Baylor University is a preeminent Christian research university committed to addressing the world's most meaningful challenges through top-tier research and scholarship. Recognized as an R1 research institution, Baylor focuses on infusing its distinct Christian mission into its research initiatives, fostering a commitment to excellence and innovation.
TIMSER S.A.P.I. de C.V. is a biomedical company in Mexico developing accessible and non-invasive blood-based screening solutions for early detection of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. The company leverages more than a decade of research to advance clinically validated molecular diagnostics using protein biomarkers identified through proteomics and molecular biology approaches. These technologies address barriers to traditional screening and are backed by extensive national and international patent coverage and clinical trial validation involving hundreds of participants.

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