Protein Discovery

About Protein Discovery

Protein Discovery, Inc. was a life sciences company that developed and commercialized products for protein analysis using mass spectrometry. Founded in 2001 by Chuck Witkowski, the company, formerly known as Qgenics Biosciences, was privately held and focused on creating specialized sample preparation technologies. Its products were designed to assist academic, government, and pharmaceutical scientists by enabling more sensitive, accurate, and rapid analyses in their protein research and biotherapeutic development.

The company's product line included sample preparation systems and reagents aimed at simplifying complex processes. A key offering was the GELFREE® 8100 Fractionation System, an instrument that separates complex protein mixtures into liquid-phase molecular weight fractions. Another product, the Passport 1200 Sample Prep System, was developed to automate and simplify the preparation of biological samples for high-throughput mass spectrometry, particularly for clinical research. Additionally, Protein Discovery provided proprietary consumables like the PPS Silent Surfactant, a reagent designed to solubilize membrane proteins without interfering with subsequent analysis.

In November 2011, Protein Discovery, Inc. entered into a definitive merger agreement with Expedeon, Ltd., a UK-based provider of products for protein research, to form a combined entity aimed at being a global supplier of protein analysis and purification products. Following the merger, Chuck Witkowski joined the Expedeon Board of Directors. The company had received investments from firms including MB Venture Partners, Nashville Capital Network, Santé Ventures, and The Southern Appalachian Fund.