CGI-500genomes
Second call for proposals now open – apply by 21 May!
The CGI-Clinics consortium is launching the CGI-500genomes initiative, a collaborative effort to sequence 500 tumour samples and establish a comprehensive database including genomic and associated clinical data to advance cancer research.
To support this effort, the CGI-Clinics project will cover the cost of sequencing whole genomes (WGS) or whole exomes (WES) of clinically and scientifically relevant patient samples. In addition, advanced genomic analysis and expert interpretation via the new Cancer Genome Interpreter (CGI) will be provided, alongside personalised support throughout the entire process, including data deposition in a controlled-access repository.
The primary goal of this initiative is to demonstrate how tumour genomic data from clinical settings can be shared with the broader research community to improve cancer care. A second goal is to support the integration of new hospitals into the CGI-Clinics network while testing a complete end-to-end workflow – from sample sequencing to mutation interpretation and reporting, as illustrated below.
Open Call for Proposals: Genomic Sequencing and Interpretation of Clinical Tumour Cohorts
This second Call for Proposals to contribute to the CGI-500genomes initiative invites institutions in Europe to submit scientific-clinical cohorts facing complex interpretation challenges for analysis using advanced genomic sequencing and interpretation resources.
Successful applicants will provide tumoral samples with paired normal controls along with relevant clinical data. CGI-Clinics will cover the cost of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) or Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) for all selected samples. While all high-quality studies that are ethically-compliant for research and long-term storage will be considered, this Open Call will prioritise prospective studies. Samples will be selected based on the scientific-clinical relevance of the cases and after the evaluation by the selection committee. A total of 150 samples are currently being sequenced as part of the initiative, and 350 samples (WGS or WES) will be sequenced as part of this call to complete the 500 WGS/WES objective.
The National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) in Barcelona serves as the sequencing provider. All sequenced data will be analysed and interpreted using the newly developed CGI Platform, which integrates expert-curated and data-driven methods to improve cancer variant interpretation. By analysing the data with CGI, participants will also have access to the CGI-Clinics community. In addition, data produced within this initiative will be used to improve CGI’s automatic learning platform, thus contributing to the advancement of cancer genome interpretation for future patients, as depicted below.
As part of this collaborative effort between cancer patients, clinicians, and scientists, successful applicants are required to deposit the generated genomic data (pseudonymised/anonymised where appropriate) along with associated clinical data into a controlled-access data repository for research of their choice (e.g. European Genome-Phenome Archive, EGA) and make data available for cancer research.
