Continued Growth for New Zealand Genomics Limited

Monday 7 September 2015

Continued Growth for New Zealand Genomics Limited

Genomics infrastructure service provider New Zealand Genomics Limited (NZGL) has again increased the number and range of research projects it is involved with.

Projects NZGL is involved in range from helping researchers investigate the potential for using light-emitting proteins in glowworms as markers in biomedical research, to sequencing the genomes of the Poor Knights giant weta and the common stick insect to help conservationists make population decisions into the future. NZGL is also providing genomics sequencing services and specialist analysis skills to assist research into Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia currently affects an estimated 53,000 New Zealanders and that is predicted to triple to 150,000 by 2050.

NZGL was established in 2010 to provide New Zealand scientists with an integrated suite of genomic services involving gene sequencing, bioinformatics and genomics appropriate IT. Its just released 2015 Impacts and Outcomes Report shows service turnover has increased to $3.0m - up from $2.51m last year - and the number of projects NZGL has provided service delivery on has risen to 281, from 252 in 2014. A PDF copy of the report is available online NZGL-ImpactsOutcomes-2015 Chief Executive Tony Lough says service utilisation and depth continues to grow, and the volume of enquiries they are getting from researchers is also 5% greater than the same period in 2014.

"Our value to the sector ensures support for a wide variety of projects that might not otherwise be possible, due to scale, affordability and inability to access the required resources. NZGL regularly assists New Zealand researchers with small niche projects that would be unattractive to large overseas commercial providers. Currently 87% of our total annual projects - fall into this niche category. These projects in particular benefit from centralised access to expertise."

Dr Lough says NZGL offers researchers a suite of end-to-end services, ranging from support during experimental design, sequencing and other genomic data generation, through to bioinformatics analysis and computer and software resources designed for genomic data.

"As well as those niche projects, we provide genomics support services and a range of applications across the entire science system from primary industry - such as agriculture and horticulture - to biosecurity, health and New Zealand's natural heritage resources. We are working with key research organisations to develop new tools which allow for faster and cheaper DNA analysis that will improve productivity in the primary sector, for example through breeding choices."

Since inception, NZGL has also developed human capital through the provision of services to a client base of 800 researchers from the university sector (69%); CRIs (24%) and private companies, biotechnology companies or health agencies (7%).

Additionally, in 2015 NZGL delivered 32 genomics workshops and seminars to inform and upskill researchers across New Zealand.

Dr Lough says as signalled last year NZGL is increasing the use of common Bio-IT data analysis platforms and bioinformatics analysis expertise, provided through the collaborator and partnership networks. This is achieved by entering into bulk contracts with key practitioners in research organisations and in industry to optimise their contributed value to the New Zealand economy.

"In 2015 and onward, NZGL will further expand its national reach by leveraging the strengths of its partners to provide leading edge Bio-IT and joint service arrangements. This will allow researchers the flexibility to access the specialist resources they need irrespective of location, project scale or entity supporting services behind the scenes."

New Zealand Genomics Limited (NZGL) was established as a genomics infrastructure service provider to the New Zealand research community. NZGL is a co-investment and collaborative infrastructure, supported by the Crown (through the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, MBIE); University of Otago; Massey University and The University of Auckland. It is funded by co-investment from the Crown ($40.6m) and the three university collaborators ($29.3m).

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