After an anxious few months, Dunedin scientists are welcoming
confirmation of Government funding for a new collaborative
genomics facility.
The $26.5 million over five years confirmed yesterday was
$13.5 million less than originally expected but was "grand
news", University of Otago geneticist and project leader Prof
Anthony Reeve said yesterday.
"This is the first time a government has given money to
support science infrastructure on this scale.
We are first cab off the rank."
Nine months ago, funding of $40 million over nine years was
announced to establish a trading company to carry out gene
sequencing and analysis for customers in New Zealand and
internationally.
The company, to be led by University of Otago staff, would
also involve Massey University, the University of Auckland
and the Crown Research Institute AgResearch.
However, Prof Reeve said he was told in December the funding
was on hold pending the National Government's reconsideration
of all spending.
"We didn't expect the funding to be put on hold, but then we
didn't know the economic recession was coming either. We were
caught out by the recession."
Asked if it had been an anxious wait for confirmation, he
said it had.
Gene sequencing allows scientists to examine the structure
and function of living things.
Bioinformationists take the sequencing data and convert it
into information which can be used by others.
Prof Reeve said the $26.5 million would still enable the
consortium to buy New Zealand's third gene sequencing machine
and employ several more genomics specialists.
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