Proteomics Studies in Oncology Towards Personalized Medicine in Public Health: Opportunities and Challenges for OMICS Research in Iran

Although personalized medicine is not a new concept, recent advances in OMICS technologies and highthroughput discovery of biomarkers have taken this goal to greater heights as well as challenges, particularly from the perspective of globalized post-genomics science. The crucial question is to what extent developing countries can participate in this nascent healthcare facet in the 21st century? In Iran, this issue is even more challenging due to several cross-cutting factors such as inadequate financial and skilled human resources and importantly, sanctions on the import of a wide array of technologies that have seriously affected advanced proteomic instruments such as mass spectrometry. Apart from these barriers, another drawback is the inadequate incorporation of high-throughput data into cancer clinical settings. The available instruments in Iran are essentially limited to the level of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis equipment. However, opportunity still exists for collaboration with proteomic centers equipped with mass spectrometry abroad while local scientists contributing to proteomics study conception, design and implementation. In this article, we discuss the current OMICS data-intensive research conducted in Iran, with a view to “proteomics-in-oncology”, considering in parallel the effects of international sanctions on the ongoing research in the country. The lessons learned have broad importance to inform the global personalized medicine scientific community on the ways in which postgenomics science is presently making strides in resource-limited settings.