Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation, Conor Lenihan T.D. recently opened Ireland’s first Genome Sequencing Laboratory, a new cutting-edge DNA sequencing laboratory enabling research into psychiatric disorders, cancers, infectious diseases and conditions affecting the immune system, based in Trinity College Dublin’s Institute of Molecular Medicine.

(From left) Prof. Michael Gill, TCD; Dr Stephen Simpson, SFI; Mr. Conor Lenihan, T.D.; Dr. Derek Morris, TCD, Prof. Dermot Kelleher, TCD

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), funded the new Trinity Genome Sequencing Laboratory as a national platform which houses an ‘Illumina Genome Analyzer II’, the first ‘next generation DNA sequencing’ platform to be set up in Ireland. This national platform allows scientists to undertake studies in molecular biology and genetics research that were previously not technically or economically feasible. This ultra-high throughput sequencing technology therefore facilitates a range of genetics studies that were previously not possible and has already started to revolutionize genetics research world-wide. The range of genetics applications available include (i) DNA Sequencing, (ii) Transcriptome Analysis and (iii) Studies of Gene Regulation and Control. The successful award from SFI involved investigators from Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Dublin and National University of Ireland Galway.

Image above: Mr. Conor Lenihan, T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation and Dr. Elaine Kenny, Trinity Genome Sequencing Laboratory

Speaking at the opening, Professor Dermot Kelleher, Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Head of the TCD School of Medicine and a Director of Molecular Medicine Ireland acknowledged the role of Science Foundation Ireland in supporting top-class research: ‘By supporting this new laboratory, SFI is supplying researchers in Ireland with the state-of-the-art tools necessary to study these illnesses and participate in collaborative research at a very high international standard’. In addition, SFI Director of Life Sciences, Dr Stephen Simpson said: 'SFI is confident that strategic investment in additional resources and infrastructure accelerates research output and enhances research quality'. 

The Trinity Genome Sequencing Laboratory as a national platform is supported by full time research staff available to all academic and industry based researchers in Ireland. This facility provides assistance to researchers interested in undertaking a project using the Illumina Genome Analyzer in the following key areas:

• Advice on study design and costs
• Advice and guidance on sample preparation
• Library preparation, cluster generation, sequencing and primary data analysis
• Advice and guidance on secondary data analysis

For project enquiries/project quotes please contact: Dr Derek Morris at morrisdw@tcd.ie or Dr Elaine Kenny at elaine.kenny@tcd.ie