Sonning Prize
10 February 2012
New international genome research centre to open in Denmark
Chinese/Danish collaboration
BGI Europe, a subsidiary of the leading Chinese genomic organisation previously known as Beijing Genomics Institute, will open its first European genome research centre in Copenhagen, Denmark on 10 February. The University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, Aarhus University, Aalborg University and BGI Europe will collaborate closely on the launch of the new research centre, which is projected to have a great impact on Danish healthcare.
BGI is one of the world’s premier genome sequencing centres. The opening of their new research centre in Copenhagen will help strengthen the already successful collaboration between Denmark and China.
“Our primary mission of this research centre is to provide BGI´s world-class expertise and infrastructure for the European researchers in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and other related areas. The opening of BGI Europe will add immense value on science advancement and application for both BGI Europe and Denmark. I believe this center also will strive to cultivate joint collaborations between China and Europe”, says Director of BGI Europe Ning Li.
Creating a genome atlas
With grants from the Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation (HTF) two integrated projects led by researchers from the University of Copenhagen will be initiated in the centre. One project is to identify previously unknown pathogens that will lead to the development and patenting of commercial vaccines and the other is to establish a unique catalogue of the millions of variations in Dane’s DNA. The genome atlas will serve as the foundation for new studies that will cast light on the hereditary causes for a number of common diseases, as well as the treatment and prevention.
Prorector for the University of Copenhagen, Thomas Bjørnholm, has been one of the driving forces behind establishing the centre.
“According to Chinese astrology, we entered the year of the dragon just a few weeks ago. When the dragon arrives, it means that big things occur. Now BGI Europe is born, and we can expect something big. Both the facilities and the Danish and international scientists behind the centre are state-of-the-art. The vision is to create the best facilities in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics, so that we have an opportunity to utilise knowledge on genes and better Denmark’s possibilities of preventing and curing diseases.” says Prorector Thomas Bjørnholm.
1200 square metres of laboratories
BGI Europe will open their new laboratories in COBIS (Copenhagen Bio Science Park) in close connection to the University of Copenhagen’s North Campus area. The new 1.200 M2 facility has been equipped with technologically advanced equipment that will help accelerate the innovation and development of genomics research and applications in Europe in healthcare, agriculture, bioenergy and other related fields.
The opening ceremony will be held at the Copenhagen Biocenter at the University of Copenhagen. Co-founder and Chairman of BGI Professor Huangming Yang, Minister of Trade and Investments Pia Olsen Dyhr and University of Copenhagen Prorector Thomas Bjørnholm will attend the opening ceremony of the centre together with 120 other guests from leading European research centres, universities and business organisations.
Contact
Project Coordinator Anders B. Damholt
GenomeDenmark
Department of Biology
University of Copenhagen
Mobile: +45 23 84 00 04
Related News
Contact
Project Coordinator Anders B. Damholt
GenomeDenmark
Department of Biology
University of Copenhagen
Email: anders.damholt@bio.ku.dk
Mobile: +45 23 84 00 04
News Editor Anna Høxbro Bak
Email: bak@adm.ku.dk
Mobile: +45 22 64 03 55
Facts about BGI
BGI, one of the largest genomics centres in the world, was founded in Beijing, China on 9 September, 1999, with the mission of being the premier scientific partner to the global research community. The goal of BGI is to make leading-edge genomic science highly accessible through its investment in infrastructure that leverages the best available technology, economies of scale, and expert bioinformatics resources.
BGI has established a proven track record of excellence, delivering results with high efficiency and accuracy for innovative, high-profile research which has generated over 170 publications in top-tier journals such as Nature and Science.
BGI Europe and its headquarter in Copenhagen was established in 2010, as the European branch of BGI, BGI Europe, has built up collaborations with leading academic and government research institutions, as well as global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
