Objectives
The Genomics Unit specializes in genomics analyses for R&D, focusing on identifying gene mutations to enhance the diagnosis and the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.
The Genomics Unit provides accredited genomics tests for clinical trials and enables researchers to investigate current challenges and solutions confronting both surveillance specialists and modelers who work with genomic data.
Areas of impact and applications in the field
Cancer cells have advantages over normal cells in selective growth and survival in the context of cancer, and genomic alterations are the root of those advantages. The genomic landscapes for the most prevalent types of human cancer have been revealed over the past ten years, particularly with next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, also known as second-generation, in the mid-2000s. These discoveries have assisted in the early detection, prognosis, and treatment of tumors.
The Genomics Unit will require advanced computational biology efforts to identify novel biomarkers in cancer research. These endeavors will contribute to a better understanding of what genomics-based cancer theranostics has accomplished, as well as its prospects and limitations.
Genomic technologies have also led to tremendous gains in understanding how pathogens function, evolve and interact in infectious diseases. Because sequencing methods have improved in speed and capacity over the past ten years, at a decreased cost, pathogen diversity can now be measured with great precision and resolution.
Along with this, the use of model systems that can forecast the emergence and size of infectious disease outbreaks has increased, owing in part to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, but also to modeling advances that allow for rapid estimates in emerging outbreaks to inform monitoring, coordination, and resource deployment. However, most of the genomic studies have been done retrospectively. While they provide high-resolution perspectives of pathogen diversification and evolution in the setting of selection, they are frequently not aligned with devising therapies. This is a missed opportunity because pathogen diversification is central to the most pressing infectious public health concerns, and therapies must take virulence mechanisms and pathogen diversification into account. Thus, this facility provides a valuable opportunity for researchers in harnessing genomic data for better forcasting with more accurate predictions in future.
Areas of impact and applications in the field
Regarding cancer research, synthetic biology seeks to re-design biological systems to perform novel functions in a predictable way. Recent advances in bacterial and mammalian cell engineering include the development of cells that function in biological samples or within the body as minimally invasive diagnostics or theranostics for the real-time regulation of complex pathological conditions. Ex-vivo and in-vivo cell-based biosensors and therapeutics have been developed to target a wide range of diseases including cancer.
A major milestone in the field of theranostic cell engineering was the 2017 FDA approval of tisagenlecleucel, the first gene therapy to be approved in the USA. Considering the above, this facility will work on preclinical applications of mammalian sensing and drug delivery platforms as well as underlying biological designs that could lead to new classes of cell diagnostics and therapeutics.
In the context of infectious diseases, there is a growing need for novel, specific, sensitive, and effective diagnostic and treatment procedures. Synthetic systems and devices are evolving into strong tools for treating human infections. The advancement of synthetic biology provides platforms for detecting and preventing infectious diseases that are efficient, accurate, and cost-effective.
Services
List of Equipments
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