The Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science (CEGS) program is run by the National Human Genome Research Institute, and supports formation of multi-investigator, interdisciplinary research teams to develop novel and innovative genomic technologies. Our center was established in the summer of 2020, and represents a collaborative effort between six institutions in New York City.
While recent years have witnessed transformative advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), information from a single modality is often insufficient to yield deep biological insight into cellular state and identity that is necessary for devising effective, personalized approaches to treatment. In response, the mission of our Center is to develop a comprehensive suite of technologies and analytical methods to measure and integrate the molecular and environmental determinants of cellular identity. We will develop tools to simultaneously measure and harmonize epigenetic state, transcriptomic output, protein levels, lineage, and spatial environment across individual cells. Our Center will address critical challenges in data integration, and produce software, protocols, and strategies that will be applicable to diverse biological systems and will be shared broadly with the community.