BGI Genomics and Allen Institute Launch Global Brain Science Initiative

On April 10, 2017, on the eve of World Parkinson’s Day, BGI Genomics signed a research collaboration agreement with the Allen Institute, a U.S. non-profit medical research organization, focusing on genomics-based research. The partnership aims to leverage the power of genomics to jointly advance brain science research and promote development in related technological fields.

Brain research remains an unmet challenge in the scientific community. As population aging intensifies, diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease have become unavoidable social issues. Gaining a deeper understanding of the brain helps elucidate these conditions and represents a key focus for scientific breakthroughs.

Since 2013, the United States, the European Union, and Japan have successively launched brain science initiatives. In 2016, “Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Research” was designated as one of the major scientific and technological innovation projects and programs in the Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan.

The Allen Institute is an independent, non-profit medical research organization. In 2003, American philanthropist Paul G. Allen provided $100 million in seed funding, leading to the official establishment of the Allen Institute in Seattle. Subsequently, the Allen Institute has received extensive support from government agencies, public foundations, and private foundations, gradually growing into one of the most influential medical research institutions in the United States.

The Allen Institute for Brain Science is a key branch of the Allen Institute and the primary collaboration target for BGI in this initiative. Leveraging extensive research and understanding of the brain, the Allen Institute for Brain Science is dedicated to addressing the most pressing questions in neuroscience and seeking the ultimate answer to what makes us human.

In 2015, the Allen Institute for Brain Science convened 12 partners from around the world to launch a project aimed at reconstructing a 3D atlas of brain neurons. This initiative seeks to help scientists better understand how individual neurons influence brain function, with the ultimate goal of fundamentally transforming the treatment of disorders such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.

Inspired by the large-scale sky surveys conducted by astronomers to explore the universe, the Allen Institute for Brain Science systematically studied neural activity in the mouse visual cortex over a four-year period. In July 2016, the Allen Brain Observatory released the relevant data for the first time, providing a publicly accessible dataset. This dataset, the largest brain dataset to date, is designed to help scientists understand the human brain and develop models.

Unlike most research institutions, the Allen Institute for Brain Science operates under the guiding principles of “team science, big science, and open science,” conducting scientific research through a unique project structure aimed at advancing global scientific progress by openly sharing new data, knowledge, and tools.

This aspect is quite similar to BGI Genomics.

Under this collaboration, both parties aim to establish cooperation in sequencing technologies and explore further opportunities for partnership in fields such as bioinformatics and data mining. The research projects are expected to cover the identification of cell types in the brain, as well as advancing understanding of neurodegenerative or developmental diseases and disorders. The collaboration will also promote exchanges and interactions in talent education between BGI Shenzhen and the Allen Institute in Seattle.

He Yiwu, Global Head of R&D at BGI Group, believes that BGI’s research capabilities and influence in the field of genomics can significantly support and advance the Allen Institute’s pioneering work in human brain research. He has high hopes for this collaboration, anticipating that it will accelerate scientific discoveries in key areas, drive progress in scientific research, and ultimately benefit human health.

Source: BGI Genomics