Skip to Content

ESGI 

European Sequencing and Genotyping Infrastructure

Background 


  •  Over the past three decades, biomedical research has advanced at an incredible rate – particularly in the area of genome (nucleic acid) sequencing and genotyping. The quality, speed and reduced cost of these new technologies have revolutionised the way researchers approach biological problems. Recent developments have made it possible to analyse whole genomes quickly and relatively cheaply. This has led to an explosion in genomic data, which is generating new hypotheses in the larger scientific community and improving molecular network analysis. In many cases, this ‘holistic’ approach is replacing the more resource-intensive analysis of single genes.

  • ​

  • Scientific infrastructures are essential for ensuring that researchers can make the most of the vast amounts of data being generated every day. For example, sequencing a genome used to take years; now it takes hours. The flood of data generated in sequencing and genotyping experiments must be managed cooperatively, as no single institution can handle such masses of information – and keep up with evolving technical needs – alone.

What is ESGI?


The ESGI pools the efforts of leading European genomics and bioinformatics facilities to ensure that the larger scientific community can access new genomic technologies in an ethical way and use the latest analytic tools. The aim of ESGI is to enable scientists across all disciplines to use emerging technologies to decipher the complex functions of genes, without breaking the bank. For example, ESGI expects that it will become possible for scientists to sequence a mammalian genome for around EUR 1000.

What is the intention of ESGI?

 ESGI partners are focusing their efforts on integrating and standardising current and emerging technologies, and are providing access to infrastructures so that a broad group of European researchers can use the new technologies. ESGI will provide accessible support and guidelines so that users can interpret the data efficiently. Substantial efforts will also go into developing platforms for storing and distributing genetic and genomic data. In addition, cooperation with biobanks and a large number of major biomedical research projects will enhance ESGI – ensuring that ethical and social questions are addressed and preventing duplication of effort.

What are the objectives of ESGI?

Provide state-of-the-art sequencing and genotyping systems and bioinformatics support for excellent genetics and systems biology research in Europe

Create an infrastructure that can routinely sequence the complete human genome in a few hours for less than 1000 Euro

Create an entity with a diverse application range in genetics and systems biology

WORK pACKAGE


Staggering investments, research cooperation across several continents and a decade of collective effort: the Human Genome Project was an undertaking of epic proportions. Building on the project’s landmark achievement in 2003,second-generation sequencers can already process a complete human genome in a matter of weeks, and further technical improvements are just around the corner. The ESGI strives to integrate cutting-edge sequencing and genotyping facilities and advance the state of the art for the benefit of the scientific community

​

Genomics research produces new knowledge on biological systems — a rich reward in its own right, which also holds the key to innovative applications in areas as diverse as health,energy, agriculture, archaeology and forensics. Advances in personalised and predictive medicine, for example, could revolutionise the prevention and treatment of disease,reducing the burden of ill health on individuals, their families and health care systems. They will rely, in part, on the availability of sequencing and genotyping technology that delivers fast, accurate and affordable results, and on top-flight expertise to ensure that researchers can put this equipment to optimal use.

The ESGI partners have joined forces to broaden the access to their own research facilities, to foster know-how and harmonisation, and to pave the way for next-generation technology. All are leading research organisations in the EU, pooling their strengths in order to defragment and strengthen Europe’s research capacities in genetics and genomics. As one of their main objectives, they are harnessing emergent technologies to create an integrated infrastructure that can eventually allow for sequencing of the complete human genome in just a few hours, at a maximum cost of EUR 1 000.

This possibility would not only boost the scope for powerful innovation. The ESGI partners are also intrigued by its potential to shift the paradigm in genetics and biology research. The predominant, hypothesis-driven method focuses on individual genes thought to be linked to specific functions or diseases, but the opportunity to consider complete genomes quickly and inexpensively widens the scope for unexpected insights regarding other genes and molecular pathways.

Genome analysis in a cooperative environment

In line with its commitment to strengthening Europe’s genetics and genome research community, the ESGI interacts with other initiatives in the field — such as READNA, the ‘Revolutionary approaches and devices for nucleic acid analysis’ project, which is advancing the development of third-generation sequencing technology. Links have, for example, been established with the 1 000 Genomes Project, the International Cancer Genome Consortium, and the Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure.


The ESGI partners have opened the doors of their worldclass research facilities to external users in a bid to support outstanding projects. Access opportunities are provided by several sites, which notably include the Centre for Genomic Regulation and the National Centre for Genome Analysis in Barcelona (Spain), the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (Germany), the National Genotyping Centre in Paris (France), Uppsala University (Sweden) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton (United Kingdom). Successful applicants benefit from access to cutting-edge high-throughput sequencing technology, medium- and high-multiplex genotyping platforms, extensive bioinformatics capacity,training and financial support.