The center for National Center for Genome Analysis Support (NCGAS) helps the U.S. biological research community analyze, understand, and make use of the vast amount of genomic information now available. Primary focus areas include transcriptome- and genome-level assembly, phylogenetics, and metagenomic, meta-transcriptomic, and community genomic analysis. NCGAS is a collaborative project between Indiana University (IU) and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) at Carnegie Mellon University.
Empowering biological researchers in the U.S. to enter this modern era of genomics
Description of the video:
>> Biologists now have access to a wealth of genomic information, to help them make advances in cancer research, identify endangered species, ensure food security, and explore countless other possibilities. But just because we have the data doesn't mean we can understand it without help. Many biologists lack access to the necessary tools, or don't have the training to use them. That's what we do at the National Center for Genome Analysis Support, or NCGAS, at Indiana University. We help a wide range of researchers at institutions of all sizes interpret and use their genomic information, from self physiology, to community genomics, all at no cost to many researchers. We are biologists who understand cyber infrastructure, and our job is to break down barriers and remove the guess work in genomic research. We provide the power of super computers, advanced software, expert consulting and training, both in person and online. Whatever your area of research -- ecology, physiology, botany, microbiology, etc. -- we can help you reach discovery faster and with more efficiency. So, if you have a bewildering pile of valuable genomic information, and you're aren't sure where to start or how to figure out what it's telling you, ask us. We can help. Sign up for a workshop or connect with an expert at ncgas.org.
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Through NCGAS, users can access:
- Compute resources at IU and XSEDE
- Curated software packages maintained on high-performance computing (HPC) clusters
- Consulting time and expertise from NCGAS staff
- Training materials and workshops about genomics and related HPC tools
These services come at no cost to NSF-funded researchers (or those doing similar work). All researchers may obtain computational and storage resources on a fee-for-service basis from NCGAS.
Initially established by a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation in 2011, NCGAS received sustaining awards in 2015 and 2018 to continue its mission of helping U.S. researchers make sense of the wealth of gene sequence information brought about by the availability of high-throughput, low-cost, next-generation gene sequencers. NCGAS is also an XSEDE Genomics and Biological Field Stations Domain Champion, which helps connect interested colleagues to the right resources or communities.
NCGAS is affiliated with the Indiana University Pervasive Technology Institute as a Cyberinfrastructure and Service Center. PTI Service and Cyberinfrastructure centers focus on developing and delivering leading-edge services that benefit the university, the state of Indiana, and the national scholarly community.
NCGAS is the culmination of more than a decade of focused support for bioinformatics by IU University Information Technology Services, spearheaded initially by Dr. Richard Repasky.