CNRBiOmics and ELIXIRxNextGenIT: establishment and enhancement of the Integrative Omics platform of ELIXIR-IT, the Italian Node of the European Research Infrastructure for Life Sciences

The ELIXIR-IT integrative Omics platform (iOm) has been established and is being enhanced by the Italian Node of ELIXIR - the European Research Infrastructure for Life Science Data - through cumulative funding of around 33 M€ granted by the MUR (CNRBiomics and ELIXIRxNextGenIT). iOm is equipped with some of the most advanced technologies available on the market with complementary capabilities that make cutting-edge applications possible. Those include second (Illumina) and third-generation (Oxford Nanopore and Pacific Bioscience) high- throughput sequencing platforms supported by devices for automated liquid handling, optical mapping, single-cell molecular characterisation, and proteomics and metabolomics facilities with high-resolution mass spectrometers and chromatographs. Such a broad range of technologies facilitates comprehensive and multi-perspective molecular fingerprinting of samples. It further empowers researchers to pursue high- resolution characterisation and validation of novel biomarkers for applications spanning diagnostics, prognosis, and therapeutics. The iOm platform's extensive data output is accommodated by a robust ICT infrastructure with GPUs, over 20,000 CPU cores, and storage capacity exceeding 20 Pbs. This infrastructure provides an optimised environment for data storage, management, analysis, and FAIRification. The resources offered by the novel Integrative Omics platform complement the existing ELIXIR-IT services portfolio, which encompasses state-of-the-art databases, bioinformatics software and libraries, ICT platforms, and a training programme providing a variety of basic and advanced courses. Currently, a program that will allow researchers from both public institutions and private companies to access iOm services is in development. Upon completion, this program will be made accessible via a web portal.