# Clinical translation of a NexGen platform for quantifying protein networks in human biospecimens

> **NIH NIH R01** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · 2021 · $702,365

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Due to technological limitations, there are no validated assays for quantifying the majority of human proteins in
clinical biospecimens, and thus most of the human proteome is clinically inaccessible. Because most modern
cancer therapies act on proteins, our inability to quantify proteins is an impediment to the translation of targeted
therapies. Furthermore, proteins act as interconnected “networks,” and thus we must be able to quantify panels
of proteins in cancers to assess the activity of pathways and networks that determine treatment responses. Our
project aims to translate (for use in clinical trial settings) a multiplex protein assay for quantifying tumor
suppressor proteins and cell signaling networks that response to DNA damage- a critical network targeted by
current drug discovery efforts. The assay is based on a NextGen platform for quantifying protein panels uses
targeted, multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS), which complements existing protein assay
technologies and overcomes many of the technological limitations, including enabling multiplexing of assays for
many proteins in a single network. MRM has been extensively validated in the preclinical space but has not yet
been adapted for clinical trials. Our multidisciplinary team brings together academic partners with diverse
expertise (MRM-MS, analytical chemistry, clinical chemistry, pathology, statistics, bioengineering, protein
biochemistry) with an industrial partner (AstraZeneca) that has extensive experience in drug development and
clinical trials. Successful adaptation of this MRM-based assay panel to the clinical trial setting will provide a road
map and standard operating protocols (SOPs) for translation of additional MRM-based assay panels (>1,500
assays are already publicly available at https://assays.cancer.gov/).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10601355
- **Project number:** 6R01CA235575-04
- **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** AMANDA G PAULOVICH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $702,365
- **Award type:** 6
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10601355

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10601355, Clinical translation of a NexGen platform for quantifying protein networks in human biospecimens (6R01CA235575-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10601355. Licensed CC0.

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