Genome Sequencing Platform

The Broad's Genome Sequencing Platform designs and carries out large-scale genome sequencing projects, together with groups throughout the Broad community. Genomes of interest include human, mammals, fish, insects, fungi, plants, bacteria and viruses. The platform was a leading contributor to the Human Genome Project (which reached its completion in 2003), is the flagship of the NIH-funded Mammalian Genome Project and an NIH Microbial Sequencing Center.

Jennifer Baldwin, who has expertise in both molecular biology and management, directs the Genome Sequencing Platform. Its leadership includes Associate Director Jane Wilkinson, Director of Operations Robert Nicol and Director of Informatics Toby Bloom.

The platform's major activities include:

High-throughput genome sequencing

This group generates the massive quantities of genomic data, in excess 50 billion bases of DNA sequence per year, needed to assemble rough draft sequences of entire genomes. In some cases, the rough drafts are sufficient to achieve research and clinical objectives. In other cases, the rough drafts are improved through directed activities.

Sequencing informatics

This group provides the infrastructure and tools necessary to process, store, analyze and track the millions of samples handled by the platform.

Project management

This team keeps the platform's many efforts organized and on track.

These three groups work together to generate genomic data sets to advance discoveries in biology and medicine.