Miniaturisation is mandatory unravelling the human proteome.

An insight into the proteome status of today is presented, covering aspects of market values, new scientific literature sources, new technology initiatives and future developments. The authors give a personal view of the importance and the expected progress of microtechnology in proteome research. The background to some of the fundamental analytical technologies where for example, chromatography has played and still plays a major role in the protein research area is emphasized. From this field we are currently harvesting decades of fundamental research in separation science. For further progress in the chromatography field, downscaling has proven to be mandatory. Likewise, in the proteomics era ahead miniaturisation and microchip techniques are foreseen to play a fundamental role for finalising the human proteome, an essential milestone for elucidating disease pathophysiology.