The grand vision of the human proteome project (HPP) is moving closer to reality 
with the recent announcement by HUPO of the creation of the HPP consortium in 
charge of the development of a two-part HPP, one focused on the description of 
proteomes of biological samples or related to diseases (B/D-HPP) and the other 
dedicated to a systematic description of proteins as gene products encoded in 
the human genome (the C-HPP). This new initiative of HUPO seeks to identify and 
characterize at least one representative protein from every gene, create a 
protein distribution atlas and a protein pathway or network map. This vision for 
proteomics can be the roadmap of biological and clinical research for years to 
come if it delivers on its promises. The Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) to HUPO 
shares the visions of C-HPP. The IAB will support and critically accompany the 
overall project goals and the definitions of the critical milestones. The member 
companies are in a unique position to develop hardware and software, reagents 
and standards, procedures, and workflows to ensure a reliable source of tools 
available to the proteomics community worldwide. In collaboration with academia, 
the IAB member companies can and must develop the tools to reach the ambitious 
project goals. We offer to partner with and challenge the academic groups 
leading the C-HPP to define both ambitious and obtainable goals and milestones 
to make the C-HPP a real and trusted resource for future biology.