Collaborations

The researchers at the Hanze Sequencing Facility have experience with research questions from various sectors, such as healthcare, biotech, food, and agriculture. In addressing these research questions, they collaborate with research groups within Hanze University of Applied Sciences focusing on life sciences, as well as with external knowledge organisations and companies.

Internal partners
In collaboration with the professorship Biomolecules & Health, we apply Next Generation Sequencing and third-generation sequencing in the healthcare sector to study, for example, the development of resistance to cancer drugs and to support precision oncology. In addition, we research useful biomarkers (molecules in body fluids or tissues that indicate health or disease) and we develop specialised diagnostic Next Generation Sequencing solutions for cancer.

In agriculture, our sequencing technology supports smart plant breeding, detection of plant diseases, development of climate-resilient crops and integrated crop protection systems. This work is carried out in collaboration with researchers from the professorship Plant Production & Processing. Examples of collaborative projects include the experimental farm Dubbele Dijk and Inbound.

In the food sector, we focus on developing innovative solutions for food safety and using metagenomic sequencing to study how nutrition affects the gut microbiome (all microorganisms in the gut). We share this specialized knowledge with students of the Master Data Science for Personal Health by guiding their projects. Find more information on the modules and training we offer here.

Within the biotechnology sector, we conduct research on ultra-resolution metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) sequencing and the discovery of novel enzymes. We integrate multi-omics and tailored Next Generation Sequencing solutions to identify biotechnological bottlenecks and to advance rational synthetic biology and microbial engineering. This work is carried out in collaboration with researchers from the professorship Bioconversion & Fermentation Technology.

Collaborations with knowledge organisations and companies
In addition to working with various research groups of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, we maintain close contact with the research groups Evolutionary Plant Ecophysiology, Microbial Community Ecology, and Products and Process for Biotechnology of the University of Groningen and the departments of Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Pathology and Medical Biology of the University Medical Center Groningen. We also collaborate with leading potato processing companies HZPC and Avebe, biotech company Paques Biomaterials, and biomedical company Predica Diagnostics.