15-April-2014 SEARCA BIC Media Release
The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) of the University of the Philippines (UP) officially opened its Core Facility for Bioinformatics (CFB) last April 14, 2014. The opening took place alongside the ground-breaking ceremony for the new PGC building at UP Diliman, and a scientific symposium. The CFB aims to provide local scientists and researchers with quality services for genome-scale data generation and analysis.
Complementing the next generation sequencing services offered by its DNA Sequencing Core Facility (DSCF), the CFB showcases high-performance computing resources, hardware and software required in the efficient analysis, management/curation, and archiving of massive amounts of data derived from next generation sequencing.
CFB also boasts of custom-made/client-focused services such as the provision of software, specialized databases or technical support for varied bioinformatics analyses, and also the use and access to high-performance computing resources.
On a related note, the PGC is a multidisciplinary institution that combines basic and applied research for the development of health diagnostics, therapeutics, DNA forensics and preventive products, and improved crop, aquaculture and animal varieties. The Center was established to facilitate the translation of knowledge in genomics into applications beneficial to society.
The PGC currently has five research programs and three core facilities. The research programs include health; agriculture, livestock & fisheries; biodiversity; forensics & ethnicity; and ethics, legal and social issues. DNA Sequencing, and Bioinformatics, as mentioned earlier form two of its core facilities, alongside that of Biobanking.
In the coming months, the PGC will offer educational workshops, trainings, and seminars in genomics and biotechnology. Collaborations with the academe, government and private institutions with similar thrusts in genomics-based applications such as health and medicine, agriculture, biodiversity and forensics are welcome.
Source: http://www.bic.searca.org/press_releases/2014/15apr.html
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