Located in the prestigious SAHMRI building in Adelaide, SAGC is a nationally accredited genomics facility that supports research nationally and internationally. Established in July 2020 as a partnership between six leading research institutes in South Australia, featuring a top-of-the-line equipment infrastructure SAGC provides customers with a wide range of advanced genomics services including whole genome sequencing, exome sequencing, epigenome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, single-cell sequencing, microbiome sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.

Based on MGI's proprietary DNBSEQ^TM technology, the DNBSEQ-T7* is designed to deliver ultra-high throughput high-quality, reliable sequencing data at a fraction of the cost with a quick turn-around time. DNBSEQ-T7* can generate up to 6 TB of high-quality genomic data in 24 hours. The ultra-high throughput sequencer is equipped with 4 Flow Cells, enabling high flexibility to run PE150 and PE100 samples simultaneously or separately to accommodate the needs of different projects. The versatile sequencer can support a wide range of applications in agriculture, multi-omics research, clinical whole genome or exome sequencing, metagenomics of complex microbial communities, biodiversity study, and more.

"MGI is committed to driving life science innovation and providing researchers with accessible and affordable tools they need to make new discoveries," said Dr. Bicheng Yang, Director of MGI Australia. "SAGC is a perfect fit to host the first commercial DNBSEQ-T7* in the country with the great potential to revolutionize genomics research in Australia, and we are excited to be part of this transformative journey."

"The new ultra-high throughput sequencing technology allows for deeper, faster, accurate sequencing, enabling researchers to dramatically boost the number of samples they can analyse, significantly expanding research possibilities." Said Dr. Sen Wang, SAGC Centre Manager. "The arrival of MGI's DNBSEQ-T7* enables us to take on large-scale genomics tasks such as population-wide studies and emerging technologies like Spatial Transcriptomics at a much lower cost."

Professor David Lynn, Scientific Director of SAGC added "The T7* is the perfect addition to maximise the full potential of the centre's other sequencers, taking overall output to new heights. It's a much more flexible system that fits perfectly into the full range of other sequencers SAGC offers. This flexibility allows SAGC to match the right tool to any scale of sequencing project, while offering significantly lower costs."

This state-of-the-art sequencer, as designed, is seamlessly integrated into SAGC's existing workflow. The data pipeline is powered by ZTRON Lite, a GDPR-compliant highly automated genomics data appliance dubbed "Sequencer Buddy" to provide a high-performance edge computing and storage solution to execute laboratory management, bioinformatics analysis, data governance, and data delivery.  

Operating in a close-loop local network, the streamlined pipeline automatically transfers the sequencing data generated from DNBSEQ-T7* onto ZTRON Lite for processing. The primary data can be stored locally on ZTRON Lite, ensuring a secure environment for access control and data privacy, with the option to transfer to a secure cloud service upon the customer's request. MGI ZTRON Appliance is certified by European Privacy Seal (EuroPriSe) and compliant with GDPR regulations.

SAGC also houses a DNBSEQ-G400, a medium-throughput sequencer that is suitable for medium and large genome sequencing projects. Read the first SAGC media release here. Empowered by DNBSEQ sequencers that deliver industry-leading quality, throughput, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, SAGC is committed to empowering Australian researchers in their innovative genomics research.

With the introduction of the DNBSEQ-T7*, MGI and SAGC are excited to be at the forefront of driving the development of genomics research and applications in Australia and beyond. As the field of genomics continues to evolve, MGI remains committed to delivering the latest technologies and tools that enable researchers to make breakthrough discoveries and contribute to improving human health and our lives.