The UB Science Park will be home to the National Genome Analysis Centre

The CNAG is designed to extend the Spanish network of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (Infraestructura Cientificotècnica Singular, ICTS), in line with the strategic objectives of the Ingenio 2010 national research and development plan, the National Science and Technology Strategy (Estrategia Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, ENCYT) and the National R&D&I Plan for the period 2008-2011.

The mission of the CNAG is to accelerate the integration of the latest genomics methods into the work of the Spanish research community, to meet the increasing demand for DNA sequence analysis as part of international genomics projects, and to consolidate Spain's status as a leading international figure in this field of research.

The National Genome Analysis Centre will conduct a pilot project based on the sequence analysis of tumour samples, as part of Spain's involvement in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), which will oversee the project and confirm the validity of the results presented. The ICGC aims to obtain an exhaustive description of the genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations and anomalies present in 50 types and subtypes of different tumours, as a means of enhancing research in this field and improving the detection and treatment of the tumours in question. The CNAG project will also draw on the support of researchers from eight other countries, each with a particularly strong presence in human genomics research: the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, India, France and the United Kingdom.

Under the cooperation agreement, the National Genome Analysis Centre will receive funding of €30 million from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the same amount from the Generalitat, through the Department of Health and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Business. The funds provided by the Ministry of Science and Innovation form part of an extraordinary public spending plan (PlanE) under which a total of €490 million will be channeled into R&D&I in three key sectors of society - health, energy and international excellence. The subsidy has been awarded without a public call for tenders due to the "singular nature of the project” and in recognition of its public, social and economic significance, which make it difficult to commission through competitive bidding, as stated in the Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers at the end of 2009 (Royal Decree 1828/2009, dated 27 November).

The funds provided, included in the Ministry of Science and Innovation's expenditure budget for 2009, are to be managed by the Barcelona Science Park Foundation (FPCB), which will be responsible for carrying out the first phase of the project, encompassing the creation of the basic insfrastructures, the provision of equipment and the recruitment of personnel.

For this initial stage, the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Generalitat have called on the support of other public bodies working in the field of genome sequencing, most importantly the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic, which have had a part in all major decisions taken since the project's inception and worked together to select the Centre's new director, the researcher Ivo Gut, one of Europe's leading experts in genomics.

Once the first phase has been completed, the CNAG will work to consolidate its position as a key part of Spain's scientific and technological infrastructure by securing competitive funding and seeking other sources of public private financing through which to extend its activities to a wider range of major international R&D&I projects in strategic areas.

To ensure that the specific actions set out in the cooperation agreement are carried out in a satisfactory manner, a Supervisory Committee will be formed by two representatives of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (one of whom will represent the Carlos III Health Institute), one representative of the National Government Delegation in Catalonia, three representatives of the Generalitat (two from the Department of Health and one from the Department of Innovation, Universities and Business) and a representative of the Barcelona Science Park Foundation.

Among the Committee's functions will be the drafting of a new cooperation agreement establishing the Centre as a legitimate legal entity and updating its statutes, and the preparation of a report for the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Generalitat analysing the CNAG's action plan, which will be presented by the Centre's management team for execution by the FPCB.

The CNAG's Mission
The CNAG is intended to form part of the Spanish network of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS), in line with the strategic objectives of the national national research and development plan Ingenio 2010, the National Science and Technology Strategy (ENCYT) and the National R&D&I Plan for the period 2008-2011, and is entrusted with promoting the development of genomics research as an area of maximum strategic priority for the competitive development of a range of key sectors to the national economy, such as biomedicine, agriculture, food biotechnology, renewable energies and environmental bioengineering, as well as meeting the increasing demand for DNA sequence analysis as part of large-scale genomics research initiatives such as the ICGC, in which Spain is an important participant. The CNAG will provide scientific and technological support to research centres, universities, hospitals and biotechnology and healthcare companies involved in R&D&I projects requiring large-scale characterization of genomes, as well as promoting the participation of Spanish researchers in international genomics projects and providing training to high-level specialists in the field.

Barcelona Science Park, a privileged scientific environment
The Barcelona Science Park was considered the ideal location for the CNAG, as it provides a ready-made multi-disciplinary environment and the scientific and technological infrastructure the CNAG requires to commence its research activity with immediate effect. The PCB is one of the most important research clusters in Spain and has gained international recognition for excellence in the field of biotechnology and for its success in promoting innovation, attracting leading researchers from the public and private sectors. The PCB is currently home to four research institutes, 75 companies, an incubator for emerging biotechnology companies, over 70 research groups and a wide range of technological facilities to support the work of reseachers (9 technology springboards and 36 specific scientific and technical units).

As the PCB's general manager, Fernando Albericio, explains, "The project will enable us to strengthen the international profile of Catalonia and Spain by giving Catalan and Spanish researchers the chance to take part in major international genomics research and by making a significant contribution to attracting foreign research talent and resources, as well as raising the quality of the research produced, increasing our level of competitiveness, facilitating the integration of new technologies and increasing knowledge transfer with the productive sector".