Omics

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.