Patent strategy is not a toy story, but a serious topic that should be considered when seeking to translate research. When an appropriate strategy is devised, patents can be used to assist in the effective translation of proteomics research. Proteomics is a diverse field with many different aspects, ranging from the discovery of new proteins to structural determination and functional analysis. This presentation will discuss how patents can be utilised to assist in the translation of proteomics research, including what aspects can be patented, considerations when patenting such aspects and strategies for obtaining effective patent protection.