The Genomics Analysis Centre in the UK is rebranding, according to Business Weekly, a publication out of Cambridge, England.
Recently dubbed the Earlham Institute, the organization plans to build on what it developed as TGAC and says the rebranding is meant to reflect its growth into various aspects of biological research. For instance, Business Weekly notes that the institute plans to use its sequencing and bioinformatics know-how to study food security, climate change, and health as well as to examine host-microbe interactions and to research crop and aquaculture improvements.
"The breadth of our research and collaborations means that a name focusing on just one area of our science simply could not accurately describe the range of work that we do," institutes director Neil Hall tells Business Weekly. "I am looking forward to leading the organization in this new phase of its development as the Earlham Institute."
Hall also notes that the recent Brexit referendum in which the UK voted to leave the European Union could have implications for the Earlham as it receives EU funding and as many staff members are non-UK EU nationals. "[W]e currently depend on free movement to maintain our scientific excellence and competitive edge," he adds. "The ramifications of Brexit will depend very much on what will replace what we have now and I sincerely hope that the government values the UK's leading position in research and does not hamstring us by restricting collaboration and cooperation across borders."