Thanks to the support of our Patrons, in 2019, Institut Imagine acquired a next-generation DNA sequencer that significantly increased the ability to diagnose and develop research on genetic diseases. Thanks to this equipment, reading a child’s entire genome is now possible in 44 hours, vs. several weeks if not months before, and at a cost down to one thousand euros, from several hundreds of thousands Euros before. This provides tremendous hope for children and their families.
Christine Bole-Faysot, Head of the genomic platform
The Project
Institut Imagine is constantly investing in cutting-edge equipment and infrastructure. The goal is to enable its researchers to meet the essential technological challenges for improving knowledge of genetic diseases.
To meet these scientific ambitions, Institut Imagine has several objectives:
- Implement new high-speed DNA sequencing tools to identify new genes responsible for diseases and significantly reduce errors.
- Create a 3D imaging platform to plunge into the heart of cells and understand the deregulated mechanisms in genetic diseases.
- Acquire an MRI in order to non-invasively explore the functioning of the brains of sick children.
Context & Objectives
Accelerating research to provide the answers that patients and their families expect as quickly as possible is at the heart of Institut Imagine’s mission. However, research progress is intimately linked to technological progress.
While complex analyses could take researchers years and cost several million euros, innovative equipment now makes them possible in a few hours and at a lower costs than what was previously offered.
The spectacular advances in bioinformatics, imaging, and microscopy increase the strengths of research for the benefit of patients with genetic diseases. They shed new light on new mechanisms, opening up unexplored courses of action.
/ 1,000 K€: For the 3D microscopy platform, the purchase of equipment and the recruitment of engineers
/ 1,500 K€: For a new-generation sequencer and related human resources
/ 2,500 K€: For an MRI and the recruitment of 2 engineers