Functional Genomics and Systems Biology (FGSB)

Over the last 15 years, functional genomic approaches have provided the scientific community with data and resources that have been instrumental towards the elucidation of fundamental biological processes and of the molecular basis underlying human genetic diseases. TIGEM has been at the forefront of postgenomic research since its inception in 1994 and TIGEM researchers have extensively exploited genomic resources, through data mining and bioinformatic analysis, to design high-throughput gene identification and characterization approaches aimed at the generation of medically relevant data.

TIGEM has pioneered several aspects of Functional genomics including: a) sequence database analysis for both the identification of genes of high biological interest (Drosophila-related expressed sequences, DRES, and the TRIpartite Motif family of proteins, TRIM) and for the identification of novel functional elements associated with human disease genes through the analysis of genomic sequences conserved across evolution (CST, Conserved Sequence Tags) and b) systematic studies of gene expression (generation of a human chromosome 21 gene expression atlas).

Functional genomics and Systems biology permeate many of the projects carried out at TIGEM so that the FGSB programme can be viewed as transversal to all other scientific areas. Nonetheless, the projects presented in this programme have been labeled bona-fide functional genomics because they rely on systematic approaches and genomic resources to address the basis of biological processes.

This programme brings together the expertise of TIGEM researchers in the use of available genomic resources, in gene expression and bioinformatics. Moreover, the programme also focuses on the development and application of integrated experimental and computational tools in mammalian systems to study genetic diseases and either develop or monitor therapeutic approaches. The multi-disciplinary approach followed up by the team of investigators of this programme is behind its strength and usefulness. The presence of an FGSB programme at TIGEM has, in fact, encouraged researchers to use innovative technologies and robust experimental and computational tools in their own research projects such as whole gene expression analysis, co-expression networks and statistical analysis of quantitative data.