The Microbial Genome Sequencing Center began as a core facility within the University of Pittsburgh in early 2015. Our aim was to provide microbiology researchers with high quality sequencing data at a lower cost and on a timeline matching the pace of research. It quickly became obvious that this need extended well beyond the university and in order to best serve the needs of researchers across the world, MiGS became a private lab with its same founding aims.
Aim 1 – Provide the speed of service that we wanted as researchers.
We understand that research is often performed through iteration and firmly believe that the speed of our services should never be the bottleneck in your work. We have created a facility that is able to process samples without backlog and we expand our capacity as needed to maintain this. Within 2 weeks of receiving your samples, MiGS will sequence and deliver your data to you.
Aim 2 – Offer pricing models that allow researchers to incorporate sequencing into their work.
Until recently, the focus on large genomes has made it cost-prohibitive for researchers to use sequencing-based inquiries for smaller microbial genomes. We have implemented methods that allow us to provide labs of all sizes, including undergraduate-serving colleges, with services suitable for large-scale analyses or small classes without sacrificing limited budgets. It is our goal to provide researchers, educators and students with rapid access to state-of-the art genomic data.
Aim 3 – Lower the barrier of entry to genomic research.
We know that it can be challenging for researchers who are unfamiliar with analyzing whole-genome sequencing data to incorporate it into their studies. We believe that WGS results can benefit a broad range of microbiology research, from confirming that engineered mutants are otherwise isogenic, to deeper studies of population dynamics or microbiome composition, and we hope to facilitate labs with no previous experience to take the first steps. We use leading, open-source software written by leading researchers to produce user-friendly output for customers. We also provide even the most novice user with the means to quickly generate and analyze their own sequencing data in hopes of making this highly useful method accessible to every lab.