HBKU Proteomics Core Facility has been established in 2019 and became a certified core lab for advanced technological platforms such as Olink, Sengenics, CDI Labs and Quanterix to actively support basic and translational research by providing services to the research community at HBKU University, Qatari research institutes/hospitals, pharma companies within Qatar and abroad. The Proteomics Core facility provides unique and state-of-the-art proteomics technological platforms to dissect the human proteome and autoimmunity, and lead to novel discoveries of biomarkers for various human diseases that help understand the disease pathology, develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and lead to patients’ stratification and precision medicine.

Supported by a highly qualified and profetional team, the facility provides comprehensive proteomics services, including high-throughput multiplexing protein expresion profiling, protein interractions, and autoantibodies detection in various human biological samples. Our mission is to support research excelence, drive innovation and accelerate research by delivering high-quality and reproducible data.

Our Vision

To serve as a core facility of excellence in advanced Proteomics in Qatar and the region, we are committed in supporting research at high level, acquiring the latest technological innovations, driving scientific discoveries and impactful solutions to advance precision medicine and improve quality of human health.

Our Mission

To support biomedical research by providing services on advanced and unique proteomics technologies and ensuring high data quality standards.

To educate the next generation of scientists on the latest technological innovations in Proteomics and precision medicine by conducting seminars, workshops and training sessions for undergraduate and graduate students.

Facility Overview

HBKU Proteomics core facility is equiped with state-of-the-art proteomics technological platforms, including the latest protein expression profiling and protein arrays platforms covering various panels and the largest libraries.  Applications include but not limited to:

• Analyzing the human proteome expression using the latest technology called Olink Explore HT 5400.
• Analyzing autoantibody expression in autoimmune diseases, protein-protein detection, protein-nucleic acids detection, etc by using SENGENICS and CDI HuProt technologies.
• Analyzing biomarkers expression on femtomolar scale and at early-onset disease using Quanterix SIMOA technology.

Our core services include:

OLINK Platform: Olink Target 96/48, Flex, Reveal, Explore 3K, ExploreHT +5K platforms are based on the Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) technology. High-throughput protein biomarker discovery platforms used to measure the concentration of thousands of human proteins in various biological samples using minimum amounts of sample (1-10 μl), covering all major biological pathways with unparalleled sensitivity, specificity, and precision at high multiplex level.

Sengenics Platform: Autoantibody Biomarker Discovery Array. Sengenics technology is based on the detection and identification of novel autoantibodies in plasma or serum using KREX protein array technology. Protein arrays made with the KREX technology are characterized by correct folded proteins that ensure high specificity, reproductivity, and sensitivity.

HuProt Platform: CDI is a unique provider of an innovative protein biomarker array technology called HuProt array that allow detection of proteins interactions and autoantibodies profiling. It can be applied on serum, plasma and many other biological materials. CDI Huprot is a high throughput system, generating several hundred thousand data points per run. Currently the platform allows for the detection of over 21.000 protein analytes (almost the whole proteome).

SIMOA Platform. Fully automated digital immunoassay platform capable of analyzing samples using the proprietary single-molecule array (Simoa) technology and delivering ultra-sensitive measurements of the targeted proteins. Simoa detects thousands of single protein molecules simultaneously on a variety of different matrices (Serum, plasma, SCF, urine, and cell extract) at femtomolar (fg/ml) concentrations, offering a 1000-fold improvement in sensitivity.

Bioinformatics Data Analysis Platform. Using R packages we offer basic statistical analysis, identification of protein biomarker signature using ML algorithms, molecular pathway analysis using ingenuity pathway software, and omics correlation analysis using Illumina base-space correlation engine platform.

Our facility is committed to supporting cutting-edge research across various biomedical fields, including metabolic diseases, genetic disorders, cancer reserach, neurological disorders, and infectious disesaaes, etc. We work closely with researchers to optimize experimental designs, ensure high-quality data generation and support with robust data analysis for impactful scientific outcomes.

For service request, collaboration or any inquiries, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at 

https://research.hbku.edu.qa/core-labs/proteomics/services