Perspective

BIG to CNCB: An Exploratory Journey from Genomics to Bioinformation

^a China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China
^b Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
^c Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
^d Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
^e Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen 518080, China

^* Co-corresponding author as Director of BIG CAS and Director of CNCB since August 2023, to whom correspondence may be addressed at ygyang@big.ac.cn
^† Co-corresponding author as Director of BIG CAS between May 2014 to July 2023, to whom correspondence may be addressed at ybxue@genetics.ac.cn
^‡ Co-corresponding author as Director of BIG CAS between June 2008 to April 2014, to whom correspondence may be addressed at wzhongyi@mail.sysu.edu.cn
^§ Co-corresponding author as Director of BIG CAS between May 2003 to January 2008, to whom correspondence may be addressed at yanghm@genomics.org.cn

Abstract

The Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the leading Institute in Genomics, has walked through 20 year’s journey since being founded in November 2003. From participating in the Human Genome Project (HGP) in completing the “1% task” to independently accomplishing the super-hybrid rice genome and other several national and international genome projects, BIG has made tremendous contributions in genomics research and development in China. In 2024, bearing great ambition and responsibility, BIG is transformed to the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB), aiming to become a global hub in bioinformatics big data services, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With the completion of its new infrastructure in 2027, CNCB is looking into a brighter future.