Lance A. Liotta and Emanuel F. Petricoin III, internationally recognized for their pioneering research in proteomics and molecular medicine, co-founded the George Mason University Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine in 2005.

The mission of CAPMM is:

• to use proteomic technologies that have been developed within its laboratories to identify protein biomarkers in body fluids, such as blood, vitreous, and sweat, for early disease detection and treatment response;
• to validate these potential biomarkers in clinical trials in their unique CAP/CLIA Clinical Proteomics Laboratory to determine their feasibility in the diagnosis of disease at its earliest stages, when it is most treatable; and
• to identify new drug targets and develop companion diagnostic pathway biomarkers for patient stratification and personalized therapy.

The team also is investigating the development and use of nanotechnology to synergize with proteomic tools for new types of biosensors, nanoparticles for biomarker discovery, and nanoelectronics.

Liotta and Petricoin have more than 25 patents pending in the areas of cancer theranostics, biomarkers, and related technologies.

One of the first scientists to investigate the process of tumor invasion and metastasis at the molecular level, Liotta has invented technologies in the fields of diagnostics, immunoassays, microdissection, and proteomics that have been used to make broad discoveries in genomics, functional genetics, and tissue proteomics. Prior to joining George Mason University, he served as chief of the Laboratory of Pathology at the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research and as deputy director for Intramural Research at the National Institutes of Health.

Liotta earned a medical degree and a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. His research contributions have generated 90 issued patents and more than 600 articles in peer-reviewed publications.

Included among Liotta’s numerous awards for cancer research are three Public Health Service Commissioned Corps medals, the Arthur S. Fleming Award, the Warner Lambert/Parke Davis Award, the Rhoads Memorial Award, the Milken Family Foundation Award for Basic Research, the Lila Gruber Cancer Research Award, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Medallion, and the Maud L. Menten Lecture Award. In addition, he is the recipient of the National Institutes of Health Award of Merit, the Cotlove Research Award, the Ballantyne Distinguished Lectureship Research Award, and the Philip Levine Award for Outstanding Research.

A renowned proteomics and cell signaling expert, Petricoin came to George Mason University from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where he served as a senior investigator. His expertise also includes drug and biologic effects on signal transduction and kinase-driven cascades, diagnostic platform development, pathogenic microbiology, and host-pathogen interactions.

Petricoin holds a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Maryland at College Park. He has co-written more than 170 articles for peer-reviewed publications and more than 50 book chapters. A member of numerous editorial boards, he also is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and the Faculty of 1000 in Medicine.

Petricoin has received many professional honors, including the National Institute of Health Director's Award, American Society for Cytopathology Basic Research Award, and the Clinical Ligand Society Distinguished Scientist Award.