The Current Landscape of Plasma Proteomics: Technical Advances, Biological Insights, and Biomarker Discovery

Plasma is a rich source of biomolecules, including proteins, that reflect both health and disease. Due to their key roles in biological processes, proteins hold significant potential as biomarkers, fueling the rise of plasma proteome profiling in recent years. Despite widespread adoption, few studies have directly compared different plasma proteomics platforms, particularly those using mass spectrometry. Our study provides a comprehensive comparison of seven platforms across three leading technologies - SomaLogic, Olink, and Mass Spectrometry (MS) - including affinity-based approaches and various MS techniques, covering over 13,000 proteins. By applying these methods to the same cohort, we assess their performance, revealing key differences and complementary strengths. Our findings offer valuable insights for researchers, highlighting trade-offs in coverage and their implications for biomarker discovery and clinical applications. This study serves as an essential resource, offering both technical evaluation and biological insights to support the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics through plasma proteomics.