A new sequencer on the GenoA core facility

A new Sequencer on the GenoA core facility:

the NovaSeq X plus

To 5 samples are sequenced annually on the genomics core facility GenoA.

From 2026 onwards, based on new national and European partnerships, more than 1,500 additional human genomes will be sequenced each year.

To support this strong growth, GenoA This year, it acquired a more powerful sequencer, the Illumina NovaSeq X plus.

The inauguration of this new equipment took place on Wednesday, December 10th at the IRS-UN.

People from the GenoA core facility next to the sequencer during the inauguration

Inauguration of the GenoA sequencer

From left to right, Charlène Besnard, Audrey Donnart and Marine Cornec, Engineers on the GenoA core facility

The latest generation, high-throughput NovaSeqX plus sequencer allows processing up to 2,5 times more DNA/RNA samples simultaneously, thereby improving processing speed and reducing costs by up to 50% for certain applications.

There are three sequencing supports (Flow cell) allowing the sequencing to be adapted to the size of the project: from 1.5 to 25 billion reads produced, which represents 500 Gbases to 8 Tbases produced at the output of the run.

A wide variety of analyses can be performed, including:

whole genome analysis
genotyping by sequencing
transcriptome analysis
single-cell analysis
epigenetic analyses
microbiota analysis

Data analysis is facilitated by close links with the bioinformatics core facility BiRD and the mesocenter GLiCIDBiRD has invested in a computing server based on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This type of equipment offers an ultra-high-performance, fast, and modular solution for whole-genome analysis. It enables a Data processing up to 20 to 50 times faster than traditional analysis CPU-based.

The sequencer was acquired by Nantes University thanks to funding CPER Phenomics carried by the SFR Bonamy and to support the University Hospital for a total amount of more than one million euros.

This acquisition has allowed GenoA to position itself in national and European projects (horizon Europe, ANR-PEPR, AXA foundation, RHU).

Feel free to contact the core facilities for any new project requests at the following addresses: