Strategic Plan 2024-2027

GENyO promotes research of the highest quality, based on methodological rigour, continuous improvement and the generation of knowledge with a significant impact on the biomedical field.

The centre fosters creativity and the adoption of new ideas from an ethical, sustainable perspective, oriented towards responding to real health challenges.

GENyO acts with transparency, honesty and respect for ethical principles in all research processes and professional relationships.

The institution fosters cooperation between scientific disciplines, organisations and institutions to enrich research and accelerate the transfer of knowledge to society.

GENyO supports the professional and personal growth of its staff, providing training, inclusion and motivational environments for researchers at all stages of their careers.

GENyO’s research activity is oriented towards the benefit of society, with the aim of improving people’s health and well-being, maintaining a constant dialogue with the social environment.

The school advocates equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion as essential elements in creating a fair, pluralistic and enriching work environment.

This area is enhancing and integrating the most basic knowledge of genome structure and regulation in living organisms and humans, encompassing multidisciplinary research lines of both theoretical and experimental nature. Its development benefits from a balance between teams of experts in the use of omics technologies and the exploration of large databases and complex systems, accompanied by the promotion of precise functional assays and validations in experimental models and cells in vitro and in vivo. The main objective is the establishment of solid genome knowledge bases for subsequent application to the welfare of the citizen. Understanding the human genome also pertains to understanding diseases, disease heterogeneity and the genetic architecture of diseases.

Strategic Line 1: The Human Genome (SL1)

This strategic line aims to address the challenges posed by the most current advances in genomics throughout the human life cycle, from the early stages of embryonic development to the stages associated with ageing, as well as the impact of genome alterations on multiple pathologies, including rare diseases.

Overall, the advances in this strategic line position GENyO as a benchmark in the advancement of basic knowledge of the genome, with relevance in the establishment of techno-scientific platforms and biotechnological initiatives associated with genomics at regional and national level, as well as the establishment of international collaborations, mainly within the European framework. This strategic line is reinforced with the incorporation of a research group with a proven track record in the use of advanced bioinformatics tools. In this way, communication between the groups that use these tools is also improved, as well as the consolidation of quality in in silico research and its visualisation in international forums.

Strategic Line 2: Cancer genomics (SL2)

Here, the combination of genomics and cancer studies is fundamental. Through this line, studies will focus on understanding the genetic and molecular basis of cancer, thus driving progress in the development of more effective and personalised therapies. The remaining challenges in this field include understanding the complex heterogeneity of tumours, including the study of their multiple cellular entities, as well as the intricate extracellular network and the complex contributions of epigenetic and metabolic factors. The impact of this research greatly complements GENyO’s leading position in genomics, highlighted in this case by its necessary role in future cancer research strategies at regional, national and international levels.

This strategic line seeks to be reinforced through the definition of new lines of work in relevant areas such as metabolism, ageing and inflammation, as well as its necessary interaction with clinical researchers in the Andalusian health system, more specifically through collaborations with oncologists and internists who seek the possibility of transferring the results of this line to the practical applicability in the second area.

This area promotes applied research based on an in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of each individual, including the study of the genetic and molecular factors associated with pathologies, as well as the influence of the microenvironment in which they develop. This requires the conjunction of multidisciplinary studies in which the application of in silico approaches is of great value to complement experimental advances closer to clinical application. The two lines of the applied area are supported by the attraction of talent supported by Pfizer in line with the interests of the centre and the pharmaceutical company.

Strategic Line 3: Detection, Diagnosis, Follow-up and Prognosis of Diseases (SL3)

This strategic line favours the development of cutting-edge research to advance in the identification of personalised biomarkers that may be key to early diagnosis and to predict the progression of diseases and an individualised response to treatments.

The research of these teams has a decisive impact on the optimisation of current diagnostics, as well as on the efficacy of treatments for certain pathologies. In this context, it is very important to optimise interaction with regional and national clinical services that contribute to the development of these lines of work. The possibilities offered by these studies for the development of new industrial initiatives should also be significantly enhanced.

The reinforcement of this strategic line, in addition to the necessary interaction with clinical services, benefits from the incorporation or more direct collaboration of clinical professionals in the GENyO research groups. Likewise, the development of this strategic line would contribute very positively to the creation of a new Clinical Trial Support Service.

Strategic Line 4: Advanced Therapies (SL4)

Finally, this strategic line promotes lines of work for the development of advanced therapies, both in cancer, immune-mediated diseases and rare diseases, including the potential generation of spin-offs and technological development initiatives with industry.

With the development of this applied strategic line, GENyO contributes to the implementation of advanced therapies in a more efficient, safe and accessible way, improving the quality of life of patients and advancing in the treatment of various diseases.

In collaboration with strategic lines SL3 and SL4, this service integrates innovative technologies such as CAR-T cell therapies and nanomedicines, led by researchers linked to spin-offs from the centre.

Plans are underway to create a specialised service that, in addition to supporting basic and applied research, will explore therapeutic opportunities and funding avenues through strategic alliances.

Recognised for its leadership in genomics, GENYO offers support in multi-omics data analysis, predictive modelling with machine learning, and project design, reinforcing its role as a technological nucleus of reference in Andalusia.

The centre expands its experience in supporting SMEs in the validation of processes and products, offering a portfolio of services tailored to their needs.

Although GENyO is not a health centre, it actively collaborates with clinical groups and entities such as FIBAO and Pfizer, providing analytical services and structuring new ways of cooperation with the Andalusian health system to promote clinical research from a translational perspective.