EEDA - East of England Development Agency

New national genome centre in Norwich will create high-value jobs

6 July 2009

Sheila Childerhouse, deputy chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), attended the official opening of the new national genome centre on the Norwich Research Park on Friday.

The EEDA-supported Genome Analysis Centre will contribute to the Norwich Research Park vision that aims to create hundreds of new high-value jobs.

Genomics is the science of understanding the genetic makeup of organisms and the genetic differences that exist between individuals. This knowledge can then be used for developments that include the production of new antibiotics to fight ‘superbugs’, the breeding of new crops with increased tolerance of drought and the breeding of livestock better able to resist emerging exotic disease. TGAC will contribute to these advances.

The Centre has been established by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in partnership with EEDA, Norfolk County Council, South Norfolk Council, Norwich City Council and the Greater Norwich Development Partnership. The centre represents an investment by all the partners in the capital infrastructure of £13.5 million. EEDA has funded the centre with a £1.85 million grant.

Sheila Childerhouse, EEDA deputy chair said:

“EEDA is funding and supporting TGAC because it strengthens Norwich as a major science city and supports the development of bioscience, a future growth sector. It will bring high-value jobs, increased commercialisation and innovative science and technology companies to the region."

"Our investment and economic leadership in emerging sectors and projects like TGAC is helping to lead the region to economic recovery.

“This is a very important project that fits with the objectives laid out in the regional economic strategy, a plan for ensuring long-term economic growth agreed by partners last summer.”

Speaking about the opening, Lord Drayson Minister of State for Science and Innovation said:

“The UK is a world leader in genomics, which is increasingly essential to understanding how to tackle the challenges we face in food security, the development of eco-friendly fuels and fighting superbugs.

“This project goes to show that partnership is the key to success - the new centre will help to advance vital research as well as stimulate economic development and generate new jobs.”

Dr Jane Rogers, Director of TGAC, said:

“The Genome Analysis Centre will give the UK a lead in the sequencing of the genomes of plants, animals and microbes. By concentrating on specific organisms and problems we will develop an understanding of the genetic makeup of economically important crops and livestock animals. In addition, the genomic analysis of microbes will be a major focus, not only because they infect both animals and plants, but because some are already a source of drugs for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections and therefore they have the potential to provide new, superbug beating antibiotics.”

The new national Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, following a keynote speech from Prof Sir John Sulston, a Nobel Prize winning scientist who had a key role in the Human Genome Project.

TGAC science will concentrate on understanding the genomes of economically and socially important plants, animals and microbes. The exact projects that TGAC will initially work on will be decided by an independent advisory board but candidates include:

• Helping to replace petrol with eco-friendly bioenergy – by sequencing the energy crop, perennial ryegrass, scientists will gain the knowledge to increase the crop’s yield while reducing the fertiliser input – making sustainable bioenergy a real option
• Protecting livestock from exotic diseases – emerging exotic diseases pose a serious threat to UK livestock. A major outbreak would threaten farmers’ livelihoods, increase meat and diary prices for consumers and put animal welfare at risk. Understanding the genomes of livestock such as sheep will help breeders raise animals resistant to disease.
• Producing more nutritious fruit and vegetables - Certain fruit and vegetables contain beneficial compounds that have been associated with reduced incidence of some cancers. Better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the synthesis of these compounds could allow the breeding of, for example, tomatoes with higher amounts of antioxidants.

The sequencing of these and other genomes will create a huge amount of data. The successful handling and interpretation of the data will be central to TGAC fulfilling it potential. In order to achieve this, the Centre will become a national centre of excellence in bioinformatics – the application of computer science to biological research.

A key aim for TGAC is to combine world-class genome science with an innovation programme that aims to benefit the regional and national economy. TGAC will utilise its own discoveries to maximise economic and social impact and is also committed to making cutting edge facilities available to UK industry. As part of the Norwich Research Park, TGAC will be a key player in the delivery of the Park’s new vision which aims to create hundreds of new, high-value jobs.