In the MainHealth cohort, we have 160 mothers and their infants and have collected more than 600 milk samples. In these samples we would like to study the mother’s milk proteins. To accomplish this, we need high-throughput sample preparation

It is crucial to understand the composition and function individual components of mother’s milk. One of the less studied fractions is the human milk proteome. In the MaInHealth cohort, we aim to determine the variability of breast milk nutrients by application of metabolomics, proteomics, glycomics and next-gen sequencing. The cohort comprise of more than 160 mothers and their infants. We have to date collected more than 600 milk samples. 

To enable the proteomics analysis of this many samples, we need to establish high-throughput methodologies in sample preparation and in analysis of the samples.

In this project, you will develop single-pot, solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3) using the Opentrons OT-2 pipette robot. The automated SP3 procedure will be tested against our normal sample preparation to validate the method.