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The CNAG will promote new genome sequencing and analysis techniques among CERCA centers

By 26 de April de 2012November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 26.04.2012

The CNAG will promote new genome sequencing and analysis techniques among CERCA centers

–based at the Barcelona Science Park– has signed a collaboration with the –an institution associated to the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan government) to promote access to various resources offered by the CNAG in the field of genome sequencing and analysis. With the establishment of this framework agreement, both institutions seek to promote, from a collaborative perspective, the development of genome research in Catalonia, consortium participation in competitive large-scale genome projects, dissemination of scientific advances as well as promotion of innovation and transfer of knowledge and technology.


The initiative is part of the actions undertaken by the CERCA Institute aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of its members, promoting the generation of synergies, promoting and supporting excellence and generating economies of scale to optimize existing resources.

The agreement will also serve to consolidate a multidisciplinary genome research area of strategic interest for the development of multiple competitive sectors of socio-economic relevance, such as biomedicine, agriculture, food biotechnology, renewable energy and environmental bioengineering.

In virtue of this agreement, the CNAG will provide the centers that integrate the CERCA Institute access to its scientific and technological services, data preprocessing systems and laboratory equipment; will provide advisory and consulting services in sequencing technologies, as well as consulting offices and technical assistance in the preparation and implementation of new projects; will house research staff from CERCA centers in its facilities (under a stay or exchange basis) for purposes of training and collaborative research, and will offer consortium participation in competitive projects and joint actions for the provision of services to third parties.

In addition, the CNAG will promote the joint organization of training and dissemination actions (workshops, seminars, conferences, etc.) among researchers, technicians, health personnel, teaching staff, and other interested professionals. “At present, genome analysis is a fundamental element in medical, biological and agro-food research. Thanks to this agreement, we aim to consolidate as a useful tool in the Catalan research system, providing added value to the researchers we work with and, ultimately, to society”, stressed Ivo Gut, director of the CNAG.

The second leading European center in terms of sequencing capacity

The National Center for Genome Analysis (CNAG) was created in September 2009 with support from the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Catalan government as a platform integrated in the Barcelona Science Park with the mission to carry out large‐scale projects in DNA sequencing and analysis in collaboration with researchers from Catalonia, Spain and from the international research community in order to ensure the competiveness of our country in the strategic area of genomics.

The Center –led by Dr. Ivo Gut– has a staff of 40 highly qualified individuals (50% of the staff holds a PhD degree), and is equipped with 12 last-generation sequencing systems, which has enabled the center to obtain a sequencing capacity of up to 600 Gbases/day, the equivalent of sequencing six human genomes per day. This capacity positions the CNAG as the second leading European center in terms of sequencing capacity.

The CNAG takes part in several sequencing projects in areas as diverse as cancer genetics, rare or minority diseases, host-pathogen interactions, the preservation of endangered species, evolutionary studies and the improvement of species of agricultural interest, in collaboration with scientists from universities, hospitals, research centers and companies in the sector of biotechnology. In this sense, the CNAG is participating in 13 research projects financed by means of competitive funding, mostly European, and has initiated collaborations with more than thirty institutions, both in the public and private sectors, in the year 2011.