BEIJING, June 11 -- China has launched a country-specific human proteome project, a genome decoding initiative expected to bring forward new methods to prevent and treat major endemic diseases.

The Beijing-based Academy of Military Medical Sciences held a meeting on Tuesday to arrange research work, marking the official launch of the China Human Proteome Project (CNHPP).

The project targets developing devices and technologies needed in proteome research as well as charting human proteome biological and pathological profiles, according to the project's official statement.

The profiles will show the effects of disease on the proteome, reveal the cause and development of diseases and help discover new treatment methods, the statement said.

China has made headway in the research field in the last four years, according to the statement. Chinese scientists have published over 1,000 papers in major international scientific journals, ranking second among nations.