– ABOUT
Indigenous genomics
Next-generation sequencing capabilities will be applied to an exceptional collection of biological samples from around 7,000 Indigenous Australians. These new datasets will be used to improve Aboriginal health and support a broad range of anthropology, historical and genealogy studies.
The most valuable use of the collections will be to provide reference data about genome variation in Indigenous populations that will enable variation associated with health and disease to be appropriately interpreted. The role of genome function and variation in health and disease in Indigenous Australians cannot be understood solely from studies of European populations.
Data from samples in the collection may also provide information about genetic conditions of immediate clinical relevance to the living descendants of sample donors.
This Bioplatforms Australia Framework Data Initiative established in 2021 is led by Professor Simon Easteal from the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics at ANU who will partner with the Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics at the Garvan Institute and the National Computational Infrastructure.
OBJECTIVES
These new datasets generated by Bioplatforms Australia in partnership with the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics will be applied to the following aims:
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- Provide reference data on genome variation: improve understanding of health and disease in Indigenous Australians by interpreting genome variation specific to these populations.
- Support health and clinical research: use genetic data to provide insights into genetic conditions relevant to the descendants of sample donors.
- Advance anthropology, history, and genealogy studies: utilise next-generation sequencing data for a broad range of research applications.
About the National Centre for Indigenous Genomics: an introduction for donor communities
This is the first of several animations NCIG is developing to assist consultation and engagement between the Centre and donor communities. This introductory film explains the origins of the NCIG collection, and its potential in the context of modern scientific and medical research. This animation was collaboratively developed by representatives of NCIG’s Research Advisory Committee, with valuable input from the team at the Machado Joseph Disease Foundation and Browndog Productions. It was funded by The Canberra Medical Society.
CONTACT US
Scientific Lead
Simon Easteal – National Centre for Indigenous Genomics
simon.easteal@anu.edu.au
General Manager – Science Programs
Sarah Richmond – Bioplatforms
srichmond@bioplatforms.com