New world-leading Danish platform for genome research

The new interdisciplinary centre called the Danish Platform for Large-scale Sequencing and Bioinformatics will assemble internationally recognised scientists in the fields of bioinformatics and genome research. The centre will thereby establish a world-leading reputation for its work and results. One of the specific aims of the centre’s research is to prevent cancer by developing vaccines.

The new initiative is financed by a grant of DKK 86 million from the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation and a further DKK 84 million from the universities – Aalborg University, the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University. The three companies involved are BGI (the world’s largest genome sequencing centre formerly known as Beijing Genomics Institute), Bavarian Nordic A/S and Genomic Expression ApS. As regards Aarhus University, the Chinese connection goes back to the 1980s, when Professor Lars Bolund established research collaboration with BGI. In the intervening years, he has collaborated closely with Chinese genetic researchers.

“It’s been absolutely crucial – although no coincidence – that BGI has now chosen to set up its European department in Denmark. With Professor Lars Bolund at the head, we’ve now built up close collaboration with the Chinese regarding the analysis of both the human and the porcine genome,” says Pro-Rector Søren E. Frandsen, Aarhus University.

In addition to Professor Bolund, the key Aarhus University individuals at the new centre are Professor Anders Børglum and Professor Mikkel Schierup, who will be placed at a number of locations that interact closely. The sequencing machines themselves will be located at COBIS – the Copenhagen Bio Science Park. And this is where BGI – which alone has contributed DKK 60 million to the Danish platform – will set up its European department.

Aarhus University will be the so-called main hub for the bioinformatics section by establishing a very strong computer platform for processing the data involved in the human genome research.

Scientists at Aarhus University will mainly be attached to that part of the centre’s initial focus areas that is concerned with determining the genome of 150 healthy Danes in minute detail. The project has gained publicity all over the world because it is the first time that the genome will be sequenced in such great detail and on so many people from one single selected population.

“You could say that we’re determining six billion building blocks for each of the 150 people, and we’re doing it at a level of detail that’s never been done before. So we’ll get results that are even more precise and extensive than those previously achieved,” explains Professor Børglum, Department of Human Genetics, Aarhus Faculty of Health Sciences.

This so-called atlas of the human genome will form an even stronger basis for researchers to clarify genetic causes of common diseases – including different cancers – and the prevention of these diseases. The second of the centre’s initial tasks is a project that will identify previously unknown carcinogenic viruses, with a view to developing and patenting commercial vaccines.

The grant from the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, which is the first ever from the foundation, was based on an application from Pro-Rector Anders Bjarklev, Technical University of Denmark, Pro-Rector Thomas Bjørnholm, University of Copenhagen, and Pro-Rector Søren E. Frandsen, Aarhus University.

“This is a collaboration that not only has the potential for results that will reverberate all over the world, based on the two task the centre’s researchers start with. It is also a centre that will provide us with many more ambitious and agenda-setting projects and results,” says Pro-Rector Frandsen.

Read more about the collaboration and the centre’s initial tasks (in Danish only) at the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation’s website.

Contact persons at Aarhus University:

• Professor Lars Bolund, Department of Human Genetics, bolund@humgen.au.dk, tel +45 8942 1676
• Professor Anders Børglum, Department of Human Genetics, anders@humgen.au.dk, tel +45 8942 1672, mobile +45 6020 2720
• Professor Mikkel Schierup, Bioinformatics Research Centre, mikkel.schierup@biology.au.dk, tel +45 8942 3231, mobile +45 2778 2889
• Dean Allan Flyvbjerg, Aarhus Faculty of Health Sciences, alf@adm.au.dk, mobile +45 4029 3589
• Pro-Rector Søren E. Frandsen, Aarhus University, sef@adm.au.dk, mobile +45 2925 8690