Today's Research. Tomorrow's Solutions.

We are leaders in genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology technology development, providing advanced research and sequencing services across cancer, health, and life sciences. Our work supports clinical programs and enables groundbreaking collaborations in British Columbia, Canada and around the world.

Our Technology Platform

At the heart of the Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) are our integrated sequencing and bioinformatics platforms, supported by globally recognized expertise in genomics and computational biology. The GSC operates a leading-edge platform that enables researchers and collaborators across Canada and internationally to carry out innovative, high-impact genomic research.

We partner closely with investigators to design robust experiments, ensure high-quality processing of complex and precious biological samples, and deliver comprehensive bioinformatics analyses making advanced genomics accessible to the wider scientific community.

Our platforms prioritize innovation, automation, and efficiency: streamlining sequencing workflows, driving down costs, and applying advanced computational methods to extract and share insights from large-scale genomic datasets. Housed in a state-of-the-art facility, the GSC maximizes the potential of cutting-edge genomic technologies and high-performance computing to support the next generation of discovery in health, life sciences, and environmental research.

Learn more about our platforms and services, and if you are interested in partnering with the GSC on your research project, please fill out a contact form or speak with one of our Platform Leaders directly.

Our Scientific Research

GSC faculty bring deep expertise in genome sequencing and engineering, computational biology, and the molecular basis of disease.

Their work integrates advanced approaches in data science, single-cell and spatial genomics, synthetic biology, and model system development to drive discovery across cancer, rare and infectious diseases, and broader life sciences, including developmental biology and environmental resilience. This multidisciplinary foundation positions the GSC as a leader in genomic analysis, technology innovation, and the translation of genomic insights into real-world solutions for health and sustainability.

The overarching themes of our research programs are described below. Learn more about faculty and some of their research projects here.

Cancer

The GSC is CAP, DAP and ISO certified, allowing us to perform clinical sequencing to detect cancer susceptibility mutations through capture panels and whole genome sequencing. Cancer research and clinical programs include:

Health

In addition to cancer research, scientist at the GSC are using genomics to tackle tough questions related to human health including:

Disease

The GSC is collaborating on the COVID-19 Host Genome Sequencing project (HostSeq) to develop a national databank containing genome sequences, medical and clinical data from 10,000 individuals affected by COVID19. In the past, scientists at the GSC have also been involved in:

The rapid sequencing of the SARS Coronavirus during the global outbreak in 2003, becoming the first in the world to sequence the virus
Sequencing and genome analysis of the avian flu (H7N3)
Tuberculosis outbreak tracking

Life

The GSC is part of the Canada BioGenome Project, which aims to sequence the genomes of 400 iconic Canadian Species. Species already sequenced through CanSeq150 include:

Support and Funding

The Genome Sciences Centre acknowledges the BC Cancer Foundation for its funding support, as well as these additional partnerships, consortia and organizations for their contributions to infrastructure and operations.