Omics Services
The Omics Platform provides services for high-throughput omic data generation, including nucleic acid sequencing, metabolomics, and proteomics.
Omics
About the Platform
The ELIXIR Italy Omics Platform provides access to advanced technologies and expertise for the generation and analysis of complex biological data, with a focus on genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Developed through the CNRBiomics project and expanded by the PNRR initiative ELIXIRxNextGenIT, the platform operates as an integrated ecosystem that supports high-throughput molecular investigations. It promotes cross-sector collaboration among academia, clinical centres, and industry, advancing translational research and embracing the One Health perspective. At the European level, the platform contributes to international initiatives by adopting FAIR data principles, standardised workflows, and training, reinforcing ELIXIR Italy’s role in systems biology and precision science.
Organization
The Omics Platform ideally embraces the whole of Italy, the main centres are in Bari and Milano, and it involves several groups from the National Research Council institutes of IBIOM, ITB and IBSBC, as wellas groups from the Universities of Bari, Milano and Milano-Bicocca.
It is supported by a network of national and international partners, including academia, healthcare centres, public institutions, and industry. This collaborative and multidisciplinary structure brings together expertise from diverse fields such as biology, clinical research, environmental science, analytical technologies, and translational applications, enabling the platform to address complex, cross-sector scientific challenges.
Activities are organised into three core areas: genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, producing harmonised and interoperable datasets. This integrated approach enables the exploration of biological systems from multiple perspectives, delivering knowledge with concrete impact.
Focus Areas of Activity
The Omics Platform’s activities span diverse domains, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of omics science:
- Genomics, proteomics, metabolomics: production of harmonised, interoperable datasets
- Biomedicine: biomarker discovery, rare disease diagnostics, and therapy-response studies
- Environmental and marine sciences: biodiversity assessment, biomonitoring, and pollutant impact
- Agri-food and nutrition: food traceability, authentication, and nutraceutical validation
- Computational support: scalable workflows, HPC, and Cloud-based infrastructures
- FAIR data implementation: ensuring reusability and standardisation of omics data
- Training and mentoring: knowledge transfer through workshops and hands-on programmes
Synergy with ELIXIR Europe
The establishment of a dedicated platform for omics data generation is a unique feature of ELIXIR Italy. This distinction places Italy at the forefront of omics production within the ELIXIR community and highlights its strategic role in advancing systems-level biology.
At the same time, the Omics Platform is fully integrated with ELIXIR Europe’s Data, Tools, and Training platforms. It contributes through the development of interoperable workflows, participation in benchmarking initiatives, and the systematic adoption of FAIR principles, ensuring that its outputs are aligned with European standards and have a broad impact across the research infrastructure.
Leadership
For industry
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Advanced support for omics data generation and analysis (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics)
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Integration with national infrastructures for bioinformatics, storage, and data interpretation
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Personalised consulting across all phases: from sample preparation to data delivery
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Secure medium- and long-term data storage compliant with best practices and reproducibility standards
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Cross-sector applications: biomedical, veterinary, environmental, and agri-food
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Support for precision medicine, including biomarker identification and patient stratification
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Contribution to product validation, quality control, and process optimisation in industrial settings
