Frequently Asked Questions

TAGC has been designed to on-ramp additional partners and organisations from across the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH).

The first two flagship innovation projects – led by the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity – are examples of how partners will engage with the hub in future.

As the establishment of the genomics innovation hub progresses, and we build key research capacities, the partnership governance committees will be looking for opportunities to collaborate with research and industry partners.

The program is designed to enable collaborative pursuits of grant funding utilising the core platforms and drive exciting opportunities for student internships and placements to upskill the future leaders in genomics research and innovation.

The 2024 Innovation Projects have now been funded and announced. Keep an eye on our Opportunities page for any future announcements, or get in touch if you have opportunities to collaborate with our three core enabling platforms in clinical genomics, bioinformatics and health economics.

We are establishing the infrastructure, research and trial programs, and health services implementation research to build towards a new personalised standard of care for patients.

The genomics innovation projects have been selected for high commercial and health outcome potential.

For example, the liquid biopsy genomics innovation project has confirmed the clinical utility of, and establish systems for, the detection and monitoring of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in patient blood samples to provide early detection, surveillance and timely detection of recurrence, as well as early detection of developing drug resistance.

TAGC's Innovation Projects are genomics-focused health innovation projects that have received up to $2 million in funding for up to two years from The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC).

Projects funded by this opportunity are required to:

• develop a commercial genomic based application, tool, diagnostic or service;
• create new job and student opportunities; and,
• ultimately be spun out into companies and/or result in products that are licensed/acquired by industry (not necessarily during the two-year funding period).

Projects are based at The University of Melbourne and MACH partner organisations, and include at least one University of Melbourne employee in the project team.

At its heart, The Advanced Genomics Collaboration has three core platforms. These platforms have been established to enable fast and affordable research, analysis, trial, commercialisation and application of genomics based health innovation at both global quality and scale.

• Clinical Genomics Platform: TAGC's Clinical Genomics Platform delivers rapid, affordable sequencing of whole genomes on a scale that provides timely insight for every collaborating researcher and clinician. Thanks to the size and speed of this platform, precise genomics-based diagnostics will become a fast, affordable, integral part of everyday biomdical research and clinical care.
• Bioinformatics Platform: TAGC's Bioinformatics Platform is a cloud-based system that enables the creation, storage and interrogation of national and global-scale genomic datasets. Data on this scale enables improvements for both individuals and communities. For the individual, it enables faster, improved diagnosis and targeted, more effective treatment. For communities it helps create big picture government policy, investment and regulation that is more informed and therefore more effective.
• Health Economics Platform: TAGC's Health Economics Platform uses analysis of TAGC's national and global-scale genomic datasets to provide evidence-based guidance for public policy and investment. TAGC's Health Economics team works with governments to drive targeted, high quality healthcare outcomes for everyone. This has particular impact in the area of routine clinical care, where data-driven health economics shows government ways genomics can provide better patient outcomes and lower overall costs to the health system, thereby encouraging Medicare subsidy and greater accessibility to improved healthcare for everyone.

Together with Illumina’s commercial expertise and global connections, the core platforms enable the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct to capitalise on its competitive advantage in genomics research thanks to our world-leading researchers.The platforms are underpinned by cloud-based informatics infrastructure enabling the delivery of genomics at scale for flagship and future innovation projects.

Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit www.illumina.com and follow @illumina.

The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC) is a biomedical and economic powerhouse using genomics to create world-leading projects that are improving health for everyone. The work done by TAGC is making medicine faster, more targeted and more effective, plus the innovative projects we work on with our collaborators in industry, government and research are creating high growth commercial start-ups that are exporting this innovation to the world.

The University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research (UMCCR) brings together University leaders committed to improving the outcomes and quality of life for people affected by cancer. Led by Professor Sean Grimmond, an international leader in cancer genomics, the UMCCR takes a personalised approach, targeting key points along the cancer clinical care pathway. Learn more at mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/umccr

The University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution making distinctive contributions to society in research, learning and teaching and engagement. The leading international university has over 160 years experience in teaching and research. Our student body consists of 47,000 students with an International cohort of over 11,800 students from 120 countries. Learn more at unimelb.edu.au

The TAGC will provide students with the experience, understanding and drive to become the future leaders in this rapidly evolving area.

Students will gain access to Illumina’s international internship and graduate programs, providing unparalleled opportunities for students to gain hands on industry training and research in genomics – building the workforce of the future.

Keep an eye on our Students page for opportunities.