The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG)

The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
What the facility does

Genomics and molecular biology research and service provision

Areas of expertise

Established in 1998, The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG) is dedicated to conducting and promoting groundbreaking research in genomics, including service and training support for academic, government, and private sector scientists worldwide. We undertake research experimentation and data analysis for more than 800 client researchers each year, drawn from all Canadian provinces and 44 additional countries. Services include informatics, sequencing, genetic analysis, cytogenomics, biobanking, statistical analysis, and comprehensive consultative project design and execution support.

Research services

Sequencing, bioinformatics, genotyping, microarrays, cytogenomics, biobanking, genomic DNA preparation, high performance computing, databasing, statistical analysis, project consultation

Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Healthcare and social services
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labEquipmentFunction
Sequencing FacilityIllumina NovaSeq 6000 SystemHigh-throughput (“next-generation”) DNA sequencers. Used for a variety of applications including whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics research, sequencing of targeted amplicons and regions, sequencing of immunoprecipitated or methylated DNA, pathogen and small organism genome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and others. 
Sequencing FacilityIllumina MiSeq System 
Sequencing FacilityPacBio Sequel IIe System 
Sequencing FacilityOxford Nanopore PromethION 
Microarray and Genotyping FacilityAffymetrix GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G SystemMicroarray system for genome-wide or targeted analysis of genetic variability, or gene expression analysis. 
Microarray and Genotyping FacilityIllumina iScan SystemMicroarray scanner for genome-wide or targeted analysis of genetic variability, or gene expression analysis. 
Cytogenomics FacilityOlympus microscope with ASI softwareMicroscopes for chromosome analysis, including two-, three-, and four-colour interphase or metaphase FISH, conventional GTG-band karyotyping, analysis of model organism or stem cell chromosomes, and cancer karyotyping.
Cytogenomics FacilityZeiss microscope with MetaSystems software 
Biobanking FacilityBiobanking EquipmentLaminar flow hoods and cell culture incubators for culture and banking of human blood (lymphoblast), fibroblast cells, permanent cell lines, stem cells, and non-human cells for research.
Informatics and Statistical Analysis FacilityComputing cluster and data storage architectureUsed for parallel processing of genome-wide data sets including whole-exome and whole-genome sequence data, whole-genome microarray polymorphism or gene expression data, network/pathway analysis, and statistical genetics and epidemiology analysis.
  • DNA Genotek Inc.
  • DNAstack
TitleURL
TCAG News Articles Archivehttp://www.tcag.ca/news/index.html
Scientists map beaver genome as gift for Canada’s 150th birthdayhttps://www.ctvnews.ca/health/scientists-map-beaver-genome-as-gift-for-canada-s-150th-birthday-1.32…
Illumina supports Canada’s nationwide COVID-19 genome sequencing initiativehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/illumina-supports-canadas-nationwide-covid-19-genome-seque…
Breakthrough in autism spectrum research finds genetic ‘wrinkles’ in DNA could be causehttps://www.ctvnews.ca/health/breakthrough-in-autism-spectrum-research-finds-genetic-wrinkles-in-dn…