The Functional Genomics and Microbiome Core (FGM) brings together the microbial and mammalian biology underpinning molecular mechanisms of digestive diseases. It accomplishes this purpose via multi-omics approaches based on large-scale data generation and deep analytics of microbial and mammalian cell populations.
The FGM core is a comprehensive resource with services including consultation on experimental design and specimen processing, robust data generation and analysis pipelines, bioinformatics strategies, and biostatistical support. We have created a fully integrated genomic and multi-omic analysis platform for investigators studying digestive diseases. The FGM core provides users with instrumentation and expertise to facilitate microbial and mammalian genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and protein analytics applied to gastrointestinal diseases characterized by infection, injury, or altered metabolic states. Research programs are nurtured by this core’s ability to bridge microbiome science and mammalian biology and to provide multi-tiered services at the levels of genes and effectors (proteins and metabolites). This core uses tools and services, such as highly parallel nucleic acid sequencing, mass spectrometry-guided metabolomics and proteomics, and super-computer-guided bioinformatics and molecular modeling. The FGM core serves as a platform for gastrointestinal and hepatic systems biology by enabling studies of mammalian and microbial gene expression profiles, intracellular signaling pathways, and cell:cell communication channels.
The FGM core is directed by James Versalovic, M.D., Ph.D. The core blends DDC-exclusive and subsidized institutional services. Baylor’s microbiome (J. Petrosino, Ph.D.) and mammalian genomics (D. Kraushaar, Ph.D.) services are valuable capital-intensive resources shared among DDC and non-DDC members with DDC members receiving subsidies. The metabolomics / mass spectrometry (S. Devaraj, Ph.D. / T. Haag, Ph.D.), proteomics / protein multiplexing (T. Haag, Ph.D./J. Versalovic), and bioinformatics services (N. Oezguen, Ph.D.) are DDC member-exclusive services not offered to non-DDC members. To request services from any DDC core facility, visit our iLab Solutions portal.
FGM Core Leadership
To request services from any DDC core facility, visit our iLabs portal. Note: You will need to create an iLabs account.