Global leader in genomics and bioinformatics, advancing discovery and supporting scientific innovation for over 30 years.
Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) is a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and a leading genomics facility serving British Columbia and beyond. The GSC provides comprehensive expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics, enabling applications across human health, clinical research, and the broader life sciences.
The GSC’s mandate is to advance human health while broadening the application of genomics to sectors that shape life and livelihoods in British Columbia and globally. This includes strengthening disease prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutic development, as well as fostering innovation in areas such as environmental resilience, biodiversity, agriculture, marine science, and other life sciences sectors. To achieve this, GSC scientists use state-of-the-art sequencing platforms, advanced computational infrastructure, and analytical tools to generate, integrate, and interpret complex biological data from valuable and diverse sample types.
The GSC is distinguished by its close collaborations with clinicians, researchers, and partners across the health system, supporting a strong focus on translational research. Through the Personalized OncoGenomics (POG) program, the GSC applies whole-genome sequencing to help inform therapeutic and clinical management strategies for cancer patients in real time. The Centre is also home to the Centre for Clinical Genomics, which is accredited by the College of American Pathologists to perform clinical genomic testing.
With its combination of advanced technologies, cross-sector partnerships, and commitment to scientific excellence, the GSC enables genomics-driven research and innovation. Its work supports the translation of genomic knowledge into practical solutions that address complex challenges and advance the biosciences in British Columbia and beyond.
Clinical genomics services
- Clinically accredited whole-genome sequencing (germline) and targeted gene panels (e.g., hereditary cancer, myeloid, OncoPanel) for diagnostic use in high-throughput clinical settings (CAP and DAP accredited).
Sequencing services
- High-throughput sequencing for a broad range of applications, including whole-genome, exome, transcriptome, epigenome, metagenome, as well as custom sequencing workflows.
- Nucleic acid extraction and library preparation for DNA and RNA from diverse sample types (blood, saliva, FFPE, frozen tissues).
- Single-cell sequencing using 10x Genomics GEM-X and direct library preparation methods.
Bioinformatics and data analysis
- Secure, scalable, high-throughput bioinformatics infrastructure designed for efficient analyses and certified ISO/IEC 27001.
- Experimental design consultation and analysis planning
- Genetic variant and somatic mutation detection
- Structural variant and copy-number analysis
- Transcriptome and expression analysis
- Epigenomic analysis (bisulfite sequencing and ChIP-seq)
- Genome assembly and annotation
- Cancer immunogenetics analyses (e.g., HLA typing, neoantigen prediction)
- Sample tracking, database management, and support for data deposition to public repositories.
Proteomics and integrative multi-omics
- High-throughput, affinity-based proteomic profiling using Olink proximity extension assay (PEA) technologies
- Quantification of hundreds to thousands of proteins from low-volume samples with high specificity and sensitivity
- Integrative multi-omic analyses combining proteomics with genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to support systems-level investigation of biological processes and disease mechanisms
Collaborative andbespoke project support
- Tailored sequencing, analytical, and computational services supporting academic, clinical, and industry research projects
- Consultation on experimental design, data strategy, and collaborative project workflows.
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Education
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Healthcare and social services
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Ocean industries
- Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
Specialized labs and equipment
- DNA sequencing: High‑throughput short- and long‑read DNA and RNA sequencing using Illumina platforms (NovaSeq X Plus, NovaSeq 6000, NextSeq 2000, MiSeq), Oxford Nanopore technologies (MinION, PromethION), and PacBio Revio HiFi systems.
- Data analysis and management: High‑performance computing and secure data infrastructure enabling large‑scale genomic analyses, supported by 30,000+ hyper‑threaded CPU cores, over 20 PB of storage, and 24 GPUs for deep‑learning applications.
- Methods, workflows, and accreditation: A comprehensive portfolio of library preparation methods for human and non‑human samples, supported by more than 50 validated bioinformatics workflows. The Centre is CAP and DAP accredited and ISO 27001 certified, supports both large‑scale production and bespoke pipeline development, and is a long‑standing node in Canada’s National Platform for Genome Sequencing and Analysis (CGEn).
Private and public sector research partners
• BC Cancer
• BC Centre for Disease Control
• The Hospital for Sick Children
• Coastal Genomics Inc.
• Terry Fox Research Institute
• National Cancer Institute (U.S.A.)
• BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
• Vancouver Prostate Centre
• AbCellera Biologics Inc.
• Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• National Research Council of Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• University of British Columbia
• University of Victoria
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• McGill University
• Queen’s University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Simon Fraser University
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• St. Paul's Hospital