{"id":108957,"date":"2026-02-12T12:57:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T11:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcb.ub.edu\/the-cnag-is-organizing-the-commemorative-event-marking-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-human-genome-project\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T14:36:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T13:36:59","slug":"the-cnag-is-organizing-the-commemorative-event-marking-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-human-genome-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcb.ub.edu\/en\/the-cnag-is-organizing-the-commemorative-event-marking-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-human-genome-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The CNAG organizes the commemorative event marking the 25th anniversary of the Human Genome Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) and the Centro Nacional de An\u00e1lisis Gen\u00f3mico (CNAG), based at the Barcelona Science Park, together with the European initiative EASIGEN-DS, yesterday marked the commemorative event, entitled \u201cEl Proyecto Genoma Humano, 25 a\u00f1os despu\u00e9s\u201d, brought together over 200 participants, including in-person attendees and those joining via livestream and featured leading national figures in genomics such as Dr Ivo Gut (CNAG), Dr Roderic Guig\u00f3 (Centro de Regulaci\u00f3n Gen\u00f3mica, CRG), Dr Encarna Guill\u00e9n (Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, HSJD), Dr
\nF\u00e1tima Al-Shahrour (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncol\u00f3gicas, CNIO) and Dr Tom\u00e0s Marqu\u00e8s-Bonet (Instituto de Biolog\u00eda
\nEvolutiva, IBE UPF-CSIC).<\/strong><\/p>\n

The institutional opening was delivered by Eva Ortega Pa\u00edno<\/strong>, Secretary General for Research at MICIU, highlighting the Ministry\u2019s sustained commitment to cutting-edge genomics, centred on CNAG, established 15 years ago as Spain\u2019s first public institution dedicated to large-scale genomic sequencing and analysis. In her words: \u201cCNAG\u2019s work has significantly expanded molecular knowledge of numerous tumours, including breast and colorectal cancer, helping to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment through a far more precise and increasingly personalised approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

25 years of genomics: from early breakthroughs to tomorrow\u2019s challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In his presentation, \u2018Past, present and future of genomics\u2019, Dr Ivo Gut<\/strong>, Director of CNAG, offered a historical overview of the major milestones that have shaped genomics over the past 25 years, from the foundations of heredity established by Gregor Mendel to the latest generation of genomic technologies. Dr Gut underlined the immense effort involved in obtaining the first human genome sequence, an international project involving 20 centres and more than 1,000 researchers worldwide, requiring nearly 13 years of work and an investment of 2.7 billion dollars.<\/p>\n

Over this first quarter-century, technological advances have been exponential. Today\u2019s sequencing instruments can generate more than one hundred complete human genomes in just 24 hours. Thanks to this progress, Spain has been able to participate in high-impact international initiatives such as the International Cancer Genome Consortium, the 1+ Million Genomes project, the European Reference Genome Atlas and the Human Cell Atlas. The country has also moved from conventional genomic analyses towards single-cell and spatial genomics approaches, opening new frontiers for biomedical research.<\/p>\n

In this context, Dr Gut<\/strong> added: \u201cAt CNAG, we have developed methods that combine single-cell and spatial genomics techniques in a cost-effective way to detect ultra-rare cell populations. This approach captures the complexity and plasticity of cells and tissues, both in health and in disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Gut<\/strong> also highlighted the main future challenges for genomics, including promoting equitable access to next-generation genomic technologies, a central objective of the European project EASIGEN-DS, coordinated by CNAG. This initiative aims to lay the foundations for the first European infrastructure for advanced genomic technologies, integrating the sequencing capacities of thirteen European centres with a combined capability of more than 300,000 human genomes per year.<\/p>\n

The legacy of the Human Genome Project through leading experts in genomics<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The commemorative event brought together some of Spain\u2019s foremost genomics experts in a dialogue on how the Human Genome Project has transformed science and medicine. The round table opened with testimony from Dr Roderic Guig\u00f3<\/strong> (CRG), one of the two Spanish researchers who participated in the historic project. Dr Guig\u00f3<\/strong> shared the challenges and lessons involved in drafting the first version of the human genome, recalling the scale of the international effort that permanently changed modern biology.<\/p>\n

Dr Encarna Guill\u00e9n<\/strong> (HSJD) then explained how the Human Genome Project has opened new frontiers in precision medicine and transformed the fight against rare diseases and cancer. Dr F\u00e1tima Al-Shahrour<\/strong> (CNIO) illustrated how the combination of bioinformatics and artificial intelligence now allows genomic data to be interpreted with a depth unimaginable just 25 years ago, enabling complex information to be translated into clinically useful knowledge.<\/p>\n

The round table concluded with Dr Tom\u00e0s Marqu\u00e8s-Bonet<\/strong> (IBE \u2013 UPF\/CSIC), who broadened the perspective beyond humans. He highlighted how comparative and evolutionary genomics helps us understand the planet\u2019s genetic diversity and opens new research opportunities, showing that the impact of the Human Genome Project continues to grow and expand into new frontiers of knowledge.<\/p>\n

The commemorative event closed with Juan Cruz Cigudosa Garc\u00eda<\/strong>, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, pointing out one of the most important lessons of this landmark achievement: \u201cThis project taught us that cooperation makes the impossible possible. It demonstrates that sharing data leads to success and multiplies progress.\u201d He also emphasised the enduring relevance of the Human Genome Project\u2019s legacy, which \u201cbrought about a radical transformation in research and its ecosystem, and continues to open new pathways today.\u201d<\/p>\n