AGRF and Garvan partner on whole human genome sequencing

The Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF) and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Garvan) have announced a collaboration to facilitate Australia’s access to whole human genome sequencing.

The partnership will combine AGRF’s national genomics infrastructure with the sequencing power of Illumina’s HiSeq X Ten platform, located in the Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics at the Garvan Institute, to provide simplified access to the broader community of Australian genomic researchers. The large-scale HiSeq X Ten system is capable of sequencing a whole human genome at a base cost below US$1000.

Designed with the specific purpose of sequencing the three billion bases of the human genome, the platform can sequence more than 350 human genomes per week - the equivalent of 18,000 genomes per year. Following Garvan’s purchase of the system in January, executive director Professor John Mattick claimed its acquisition would “underpin a new phase of collaboration between government, industry and other medical research stakeholders”.

The partnership with the AGRF may be the first phase of this collaboration. The facility’s reputation as a quality genomics service provider with national reach is expected to assist Garvan in servicing more of the nation’s biomedical genomics users.

“Providing access to the best suite of relevant technologies is one of AGRF’s key remits as a national genomics provider,” said AGRF CEO Sue Forrest. “As such, we are excited to be able to partner with the Garvan Institute to offer the capabilities of the HiSeq X Ten to Australia.

“This partnership will help expand the portfolio that Australian genomics researchers can access through their local channels and keep the biomedical community on par with international fields.”

For more information on accessing the whole human genome sequencing service through Garvan, contact the AGRF at www.agrf.org.au/campaigns/whgs.