Future-Proofing the Sustainability of the MRC High Throughput Sequencing Hub in Scotland

基因库是苏格兰领先的下一代基因组学设施，也是英国最大的学术设施之一。基因库由MRC作为高通量测序中心提供资金，其具体职责是在MRC科学领域提供对下一代测序和信息学的协作访问。这项申请是为了将最初3年的资金续期24个月，用于支付在建立MRC中心方面取得的预付款，并将设施转移到完全收回成本的水平。我们将专注于使用Illumina测序和高通量计算的变革性工具，向新成立的和现有的广泛合作者提供一流的尖端科学数据和分析。我们将在我们的MRC中心和“辐条”模式的基础上，在我们的目标地区促进生物信息学培训和对下一代基因组学的理解。我们请求为宣传和外联活动提供核心支持，包括利物浦和爱丁堡MRC中心共同任命的一名新的生物信息学工作人员，他将组织和提供下一代基因组学高级培训给博士生和博士后研究人员。我们将在苏格兰各地的学术研究机构和部门提供积极主动的下一代测序诊所。我们将继续支持下一代生物信息学用户小组会议，包括邀请国际演讲者和举办为期两天的精选技术研究研讨会。苏格兰各地机构的生物信息学家的MRC网络将会扩大。我们将制作宣传材料分发给潜在的合作者和资助申请者，并利用我们的网站和社交媒体门户网站宣传MRC HTS Hub方法实现下一代基因组。我们将为新技术制定标准操作程序，并明确和严格地交叉核对制造商的声明。我们与主要的技术和试剂供应商保持着良好的关系，并将利用这些关系早日获得新产品。我们将对新的试剂盒进行内部测试，直接与现有的协议进行比较，并将结果告知我们的合作者基础。我们将与公司和合作伙伴合作，为下一代测序数据的生成和分析开发新的方法。下一代测序革命基于两个原则：变革性技术和熟练的员工。我们有一个成熟的收费模式，其中包括仪器折旧和员工时间的因素，并每年产生营运盈余(用于设施投资)。我们已经将几名工作人员从核心补助金过渡到费用回收支助。在续签的24个月期间，我们将把另外三个人力资源中心核心工作人员员额过渡到完全恢复(一名生物信息学家和两名高级研究技术员)。将设立两个新员额，以确保为我们的合作者提供最好的服务，特别是考虑到Illumina HiSeq平台的吞吐量大幅增加。实验室经理将确保LIMS安装的适用性，管理广泛的仪器组合(包括机器人、定量聚合酶链式反应、分析平台和其他辅助仪器)，并监督整个实验室工作流程。一名业务经理将管理该设施内大量正在进行的项目，特别是处理财务方面的事务，管理LIMS，并使合作者了解项目进展的最新情况。这两个新员额计划在两年内迅速过渡到收回全部费用。这些职位的设立将使遗传池科学经理(Karim Gharbi博士)和主任(Mark Blaxter教授)专注于加快将研究人员的想法转化为可行的项目、经过充分分析的研究和轰动一时的出版物。

The GenePool is the leading next generation genomics facility in Scotland, and one of the largest academic facilities in the UK. The GenePool is funded by the MRC as a High Throughput Sequencing Hub, with specific remit to deliver collaborative access to next generation sequencing and informatics across the MRC science area. This application is for renewal for 24 months of the initial 3-year funding, to bed in the advances made in setting up the MRC Hub, and to move the facility to full cost-recovery. We will focus on delivering first-rate data and analysis on cutting edge science, to a wide range of collaborators both new and established, using the transformative tools of Illumina sequencing and high-throughput computing. We will build upon our MRC Hub and "spokes" model, fostering bioinformatics training and next generation genomics understanding across our target area.We request core support for promotional and outreach activities, including a new bioinformatics staff member jointly appointed between the Liverpool and Edinburgh MRC Hubs who will organise and deliver advanced training in next generation genomics to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. We will deliver proactive Next Generation Sequencing Clinics in academic research institutes and departments across Scotland. We will continue to support the Next Generation Bioinformatics User Group meetings, including inviting international speakers and delivering 2-day research workshops on selected technologies. The MRC network of 'spokes' bioinformaticians in institutions across Scotland will be expanded. We will produce promotional materials for distribution to potential collaborators and grant applicants, and use our web site and social media portals to promote the MRC HTS Hub approach to next generation genomics.We will develop standard operating procedures for new techniques, and to explicitly and rigorously cross-check manufacturers' claims. We have good relationships with the major technology and reagent suppliers and will use these to negotiate early access to new products. We will perform in-house trials of new kits, in direct comparison to existing protocols, and make the results known to our collaborator base. We will work with companies and collaborators to bed in and develop new approaches to the generation of and analysis of next generation sequencing data.The next generation sequencing revolution is based on two principles: transformative technologies and skilled staff. We have a mature charging model that includes elements of instrument depreciation and staff time, and generate a working surplus (for investment in the facility) each year. We have already transitioned several staff from core grant to cost recovery support. In the period of 24 months of the renewal, we will transition three further core MRC staff posts to full recovery (one bioinformatician and two high-level research technologists). Two new posts will be created to ensure best service to our collaborators, particularly given the vastly increased throughput of the Illumina HiSeq platform. A laboratory manager will ensure fitness-for-purpose of our LIMS installation, manage the wide portfolio of instrumentation (including robotics, qPCR, analytical platforms and other ancillary instrumentation), and provide oversight of the full laboratory workflow process. A business manager will administer the large number of active projects within the facility, in particular dealing with the financial side, managing the LIMS, and keeping collaborators up-to-date with project progress. Both of these new posts are planned to transition rapidly to full cost recovery in two years. Initiation of these posts will free the GenePool Scientific manager (Dr Karim Gharbi) and the Director (Prof Mark Blaxter) to focus on speeding the transformation of researchers' ideas into viable projects, well-analysed studies and high-hitting publications.