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.