The Laboratory for Advanced Genomics (LNG) develops and applies genomic technologies to study human disease and to support data-driven healthcare. Our aim is for Croatia to be a producer of high-quality genomic data in Europe, not only a user of it.

What we do

• European genomic infrastructure. We take part in the European "1+ Million Genomes" (1+MG) initiative. In the GDI project we set up the Croatian node of the Genomic Data Infrastructure, which is now publicly accessible. Through B1MGplus and STORE-1PLUSMG we help prepare the shared European genomic infrastructure (Genome EDIC).
• Genome of Europe. As the Croatian partner in Genome of Europe, we lead Croatia's contribution to the European reference genome resource by sequencing whole genomes from the Croatian population.
• Long-read sequencing. We are establishing Croatia's first platform for long-read whole-genome sequencing. Long reads reveal structural variants, repeat expansions and DNA methylation that standard methods often miss, which is essential for rare-disease diagnostics. We are a member of ELRIN, the European Long Read Innovation Network.
• Rare diseases. S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) deficiency was first discovered in Croatia. In the R3forAHCY project (Croatian Science Foundation) we build disease models from induced pluripotent stem cells and develop gene-therapy approaches.
• From variant to application. We develop methods for the functional characterisation of variants of uncertain significance (VUS). With industry partners we also develop pharmacogenetic and nutrigenetic tools (KZI and IRI S3 projects).

Who we work with

We work with researchers, clinicians and hospitals, and companies. We offer sequencing and genomic data analysis, partnership in national and European projects, and supervision of students and PhD candidates.

Contact: Dr Oliver Vugrek, Oliver.Vugrek@irb.hr, +385 1 469 8844