Proteomics refers to the systematic identification and quantification of the proteins of a biological system – such as cell, tissue, organ or biological fluid.
ChemCentre is exploring the establishment of proteomics-based forensic methodologies, using high resolution mass-spectrometry to develop the powerful screening and quantitative analyses required.
The project has helped establish enhanced methodology for the detection and analysis of performance enhancing peptides in racehorses.
A mass spectrometry based proteomic methodology that targets other larger molecules of forensic interest, such as insulin in postmortem coronial cases, has also been developed. This project, ‘insulin in coronial casework’, is aimed at enhancing ChemCentre’s reporting capability of the Coronial Toxicology Program, assisting forensic pathologists when investigating cause of death.