How to Apply

CanSeq150 – Application Process

In this era of genome sequencing, ultimately, as many of Earth’s species and individuals as possible, should be sequenced. The CanSeq150 Initiative is designed to play its part as CGEn’s contribution towards achieving this common global goal, while enhancing and showcasing Canada’s capabilities in genomic science.

Deliverables*
For each sample, CGEn will perform DNA quality analysis, whole genome sequencing (WGS) up to 30X depth using 10X Genomics and/or Illumina X technologies, or WGS data generated by using PacBio or other sequencing technologies and also basic genome assembly (if applicable).

*To obtain highly contiguous assemblies (Scaffold N50 >> 1MB), high-molecular-weight (HMW) DNA of high purity is required. For vertebrates, blood typically provides the best reagent for the extraction of HMW DNA when combined with a specialist methodology such as the Qiagen MagAttract HMW DNA kit. For organisms where blood is not a viable option, HMW weight DNA can still be obtained likely at a lower average molecule length and investigators need to realize that this is at a level where results are not optimal and a less contiguous assembly will be the most probable outcome. For plants, researchers must ensure that secondary metabolites are not co-precipitated with genomic DNA as they will interfere with library preparation and could result in failure of the library generation process.

Process
To apply for a species of choice to be sequenced, free of cost to the applicant, interested applicants must complete this form and submit directly to CGEn using the email address provided below. Application will be considered on a first-come-first-reviewed basis until the goal of sequencing 150 species is achieved.

Please email CanSeq150@cgen.ca for application forms and further information.

The CanSeq150 evaluation committee, consisting of individuals with a wide range of relevant expertise, will review the submitted applications on a rolling basis. The committee will evaluate the applications for their relevance to the overall goal of the CanSeq150 program. Decisions will be communicated directly to the applicant within 4 weeks after an application is received.

Depending on the level of interaction required to complete the project, CGEn support may only be required to complete the genome sequencing, to conduct all aspects of sequencing and informatics/analysis, or to have an intermediate role of support. CGEn’s primary motivation is to provide the best scientific study design for the genome being considered, and to deliver a high-quality genome sequence to the community.

Terms & Conditions

Information sharingInformation regarding the species accepted for sequencing will be posted on the CGEn website and communicated via social media. Exceptions will be possible in rare situations, for example where there is significant international competition, at the request of the applicant and approval of the evaluation committee.

Data release and sharingCGEn recognizes publication as a vehicle for data release and, at a minimum, expects all data to be released and shared no later than the original publication date of the main findings from any datasets generated by this program or one year after the date the data was generated, whichever comes first. This requirement is not meant to be contrary to any data release requirements of the publishing journal or other agencies funding different aspects of the work. All sequencing data generated by CGEn will be publicly available via CGEn’s website or another public data repository after the release date.

Access to publicationCGEn requires that all peer reviewed publications that have been supported, in whole or in part, by CGEn’s CanSeq150 program be made freely accessible online in a central or institutional repository as soon as possible, and, at the latest, six months after the publication date. Publication costs will be covered by the lead author of the study.

Acknowledgment and/or authorshipAll publications must acknowledge CanSeq150 in the following or similar manner: “Funding for sequencing was supported through the CanSeq150 program of Canada’s Genomics Enterprise (www.cgen.ca)”. When appropriate, contributions of CGEn researchers may warrant co-authorship on scientific publications, following the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidelines.

For a complete list all species selected to be included in the CanSeq150 program so far, click here.