Center for Genome Innovation

In 2014, Provost Mun Choi and Vice-President for Research Jeff Seemann announced the establishment of the Center for Genome Innovation (CGI) within the Institute for Systems Genomics, under the direction of Rachel O’Neill, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology.

The mission of the CGI is to provide state-of-the-art expertise in genome technologies like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and microfluidics platforms for single cell genomic analysis while facilitating genomics research for faculty and students across the University of Connecticut campuses.

Located on both the Storrs and Farmington campuses, the CGI’s infrastructure will serve as a nexus for computational biology support and incorporate instrumentation previously included within the Center for Applied Genetics and Technology: ABI 3500 Genetic Analyzer; BioRad CFX96 Real-Time PCR machine; Affymetrix Gene Atlas and Gene Chip Systems. UConn has also acquired 4 NGS instruments (2 Illumina NextSeq 500 and 2 Illumina MiSeq sequencers). The Illumina NextSeq 500 will be upgraded to the NextSeq 550 in the Fall of 2017. Support for these technologies will be in the form of experienced user access, hands-on assistance, training and/or consultation through the CGI.