The field of molecular medicine is moving beyond genomics to proteomics and a systems biology approach to disease. While DNA is the information archive, proteins do all the work of the cell and ultimately dictate all biological processes. It is the proteins themselves that are most often the drug targets, especially in the new era of personalized therapy where cellular “circuitry” is being targeted. These pathways consist of protein networks, not genes, and these networks are controlled by processes that cannot be predicted by genetic analysis. The future of patient-tailored therapy will rely on new proteomic approaches to discover and profile cellular “circuitry” within a tiny biopsy specimen. Liotta and Petricoin have developed a cadre of new technologies and approaches to translational medicine whereby ex-vivo molecular targeting takes place as an entrée into patient selection and personalization of therapy.

For many years, electronic component leads made of Cu alloys were “pretinned” with a 3 to 10 micron layer of electro-deposited tin-lead (Sn-Pb) alloy to maintain proper solder wetting during subsequent assembly. The worldwide electronics industry is in the process of removing Pb from their components. When Pb is removed from the electroplated surface finishes, Sn whiskers grow spontaneously from the surface finish. The whiskers are single crystal filaments typically 1 µm in diameter and several mm long. Numerous electronic failures due to shorting from whiskers have been reported, especially in the high reliability realm of aerospace, military, and medical device applications. This lecture will describe progress being made towards developing a fundamental understanding of Sn whisker growth and providing industry with information needed for mitigation strategies. See http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/ for general information about the Sn whisker problem.