Agenda/Scientific Program

Neil Kelleher, Northwestern University

Neil L. Kelleher, PhD is the Walter and Mary Glass Professor of Molecular Biosciences and professor of chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He also is director of the 50-person Proteomics Center of Excellence, Director of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. 

His research is focused in the areas of top-down proteomics, natural products discovery, and cancer biology. With >450 papers, Kelleher is a cross-disciplinary investigator with international impact in proteomics (the study of proteins).  Together with colleagues in a research consortium (https://www.topdownproteomics.org/), this emerging approach to measure proteins with complete molecular specificity is being advanced to improve the detection and assignment of function to protein modifications and complexes. Now with an H-index of 90, Kelleher has mentored over 52 Ph.D. students, >200 postdoctoral scholars, and >200 undergraduates. After a breakthrough Nature paper in 2011, Kelleher has continued to push the boundaries of proteomics, most recently culminating in a publication in Science (2022, 375: 411-418). Perspectives published by Kelleher and a consortium of like-minded researchers over the last decade articulating the value of proteoforms and a landmark project to map all proteoforms in the human body (Sci. Adv. 2021, 7: eabk0734) typify their thought leadership in a field seeing a new crescendo of interest and activity in the 2020s. This “domestication” of the human proteome via precise compositional mapping will improve the efficiency of basic and clinical research and therefore enhance diverse goals for the 21st Century, including designer organs, personalized medicine, and early detection of human disease. 

A serial entrepreneur, he has spun out successful companies and recently co-founded two new ones. His contributions have been recognized by multiple awards, including the Biemann Medal from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, the Donald F. Hunt Distinguished Contribution in Proteomics award from the US Human Proteome Organization, the Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry from the American Chemical Society, and a Searle Scholar Award.

Robert Kennedy, University of Michigan

Robert Kennedy is the Hobart H. Willard Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan. He earned a PhD at University of North Carolina in 1988 where his work focused on using open tubular LC to analyze single cells. He then studied as a post-doc with Mark Wightman, also at UNC, using electrochemical sensors for monitoring dopamine release in brain slices and single cells.

In 1991 he started his own research program at University of Florida before moving to University of Michigan in 2002. His research has combined his interest in biology with chemical analysis, separations and microfluidics. A theme of his group has been development of new chemical analysis tools that can be used at the nanoscale for several applications including screening of drugs, engineering enzymes, monitoring neurotransmitters in the brain, and studying the secretion of insulin and other hormones. Key technical areas including ultra high pressure LC, droplet microfluidics, and mass spectrometry.

His work has been recognized by several awards including the American Chemical Society Award in Chromatography, the Ralph Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry, two NIH MERIT awards, and the McKnight Award for Technical Achievements in Neuroscience. He has held several service posts including Department Chair and is presently Associate Editor of Analytical Chemistry and ACS Measurement Science Au.