ASGARD Platform

ASGARD Platform Presentation: High-Throughput Sequencing

Next-generation sequencing has achieved a throughput and accuracy that enables the implementation of very large-scale genomics projects in a reasonable timeframe and at reduced costs.

The ASGARD Platform (Advanced Sequencing solutions and Genomic Analyses for Research and Diagnosis) is located at the Rouen Health campus and offers Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) services.

The platform is equipped with recent, high-tech equipment for both short read and long read sequencing, acquired through financial support from the European Union (ERDF), the Normandy Region, the French government (CPER), and the University of Rouen Normandy. It operates within a laboratory attached to the UMR1245 at the UFR Santé in Rouen and collaborates closely with the Rouen University Hospital (CHU).

Submit a project

Everything you need to know about submitting a project (downloadable document)

Consult the ASGARD Charter

Send your completed application to ngs_staff@listes.univ-rouen.fr

Framework

The ASGARD platform carries out both research and diagnostic activities, the latter being onducted by staff from various departments within the Rouen University Hospital.

Under the direction of Professor Gael Nicolas and with Dr Céline Derambure as operational manager, our team brings together the necessary skills to handle projects from the technical aspects to the data analysis.

Expertise

The platform offers sequencing project support from sample qualification to library preparation and sequencing. We can also sequence libraries prepared by applicants.

Numerous protocols have been developed to meet the most common needs in genetics and genomics (genome, exome, panel sequencing, RNA-Seq). New protocols are constantly being developed with the primary objective of responding in the most appropriate way to the needs of the requesting teams. During an initial consultation meeting, we work with you to define your technical requirements.

Equipments

Sequencing

Short read

1 Illumina Novaseq6000 very high-throughput sequencer (suitable for sequencing human genomes, exomes, transcriptomes, single-cell transcriptomes, etc.)
1 Illumina Nextseq550 medium-throughput sequencer (suitable for panels and chips reading)
2 Illumina MiSeq low-throughput sequencers (suitable for panels)

Long read

1 Pacific Biosciences (Pacbio) Revio sequencer suitable for long read sequencing (HiFi sequencing, genome, targeted DNA seq, full length transcripts, etc.)
1 ONT P2 Solo sequencer

Library preparation

1 Tecan library preparation robot (Fluent DreamPrep)
1 Agilent library preparation robot, closed system (Magnis)
Additional equipment required for assays and quality control: Tapestation 4200 (Agilent), Femto Pulse (Agilent), S220 DNA sonicator (Covaris), Megaruptor 3 mechanical DNA fragmenter (Diagenode), Qubit (Thermo Fisher Scientific)

Data Processing

In order to meet the computational needs required for sequencing data analysis, the ASGARD platform has set up a computing cluster called CEREBRO, offering more than 700 threads, supported by 1.5-PB, CEPH-FS type storage.

After sequencing, the data can be analyzed on the ASGARD platform if the analysis pipelines have already been developed by our bioinformaticians.

Otherwise, the raw sequencing data are made available. For research projects originating from the University of Rouen Normandy, the data can be transferred to the HeRacLeS bioinformatics platform.