The interface of analytical chemistry and biology has long been an active area of research. Analytical chemistry has contributed significantly to biology and biotechnology through the development of methods that provide quantitative chemical information. Current trends in biological research present new challenges for analytical chemistry and call for revolutionary methods. These trends include whole genome, proteome, and metabolome analysis, analysis of cell signaling and signal transduction networks, and monitoring the dynamics of living cells and whole organisms. These challenges, and their potential scientific and industrial impact, have attracted many of the leaders in analytical chemistry. In addition, it has brought many outstanding scientists from the world of the biological sciences into the forefront of analytical research.

The objective of the conference is to bring together researchers from both the biological sciences and analytical chemistry to discuss the opportunities and challenges represented by the new approach to biology. The desire to measure whole genomes, proteomes and metabolomes has created demand for high-throughput measurements and automated data analysis. Therefore, array and high-resolution methods that can detect such constituents will be a significant part of the conference. As cataloging of cellular components and their levels becomes possible, it also becomes necessary to understand the interactions of these compounds and how they work together to regulate a cell, i.e. signal transduction analysis. Meeting this challenge requires methods that can monitor protein modifications, protein interactions, and metabolites. Recognizing that a molecular level picture is only part of the new challenge, the conference will also cover methods that allow monitoring of living systems. As nanotechnology applied to biological measurements is clearly a potential future route to such measurements, the bio/nano interface will be highlighted in a special session.

A variety of analytical methods will be covered in the conference but they are linked by focus on studying biological complexity. The information covered should be of interest to analytical researchers as well as industrial scientists in the instrument, biotechnology, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical industries.