To improve the instruments' ability to detect rare molecules, Qian and his group have to increase the percentage of molecules in the sample that make it into the instrument at the beginning, as well as how many can be identified individually near the end. To improve the identification of individual molecules, Qian proposed that breaking down fragments into even more pieces will increase the resolving power of the detector.

"Eventually, the instrument will find a piece that is so unique we know which molecule it had to come from," Qian said.

Although such an instrument might replace current clinical tests someday, it will be equally valuable in the research laboratory, enabling scientists to screen many samples much faster than they are capable of now. This will cut down the time to find biomarkers -- proteins in the blood that indicate disease. For example, breast cancer researchers have identified almost 1000 proteins that show up or disappear, depending on the protein, when cancer is present. This technology could speed up the experiments needed to determine which of those are important for diagnosing illness.

More than 50 researchers received the NIH Director's New Innovator award this year and they join more than 60 previous winners. Qian is one of the first DOE researchers to receive the New Innovator honor. More information on the New Innovator Award is at nihroadmap.nih/newinnovator. A complete list of the 2009 recipients' research plans is available at nihroadmap.nih/newinnovator/Recipients09.asp.

Source: DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory