Background and vision

The ESFRI 2024 landscape analysis identified "an important gap related to the phenotyping of biotechnological improvements for animal (livestock and fish) production systems, the characterisation of which is not included in the EMPHASIS portfolio. […]” and indicated a need to further develop and enhance EMPHASIS capabilities for animal phenotyping studies, including fish species used in aquaculture. “Alternatively, this need could be met by a new RI dedicated to animal studies".

Built on previous INFRAIA and INFRA-DEV projects, the GenoPHEnix-RI will fill this gap providing a pan-European research infrastructure (RI) for genome, phenome and environment integration and sustainable breeding of farmed animals both terrestrial and aquatic. As the specificities of animal research and ethical issues cannot be integrated into an existing RI, GenoPHEnix will be created as the unique RI dedicated to farm animal science as a whole.

GenoPHEnix-RI user groups are:

1. Researchers from academic organisations, biobanks and laboratories,
2. Private companies involved in farm animal production,
3. Pharmaceutical, sequencing and genotyping providers,
4. Higher education providers and
5. Animal welfare and ethics experts.

The GenoPHEnix-RI will meet the needs of these communities by:

• More accurately describing animal variability through enhanced phenotyping and genotyping.
• Contributing to the 3Rs (reduction, refinement, replacement) in animal research by providing suitable models for deep phenotyping in vitro as well as in vivo.
• Advancing the analysis of genome function, combined with the collection of deep phenotype information at various levels from cells to herd, that will provide tools and knowledge for more precise breeding and management practices.

The GenoPHEnix-RI is positioned centrally in the ESFRI Health and Food Domain and will complement BBMRI for biobanking and will expand ELIXIR data portfolio and EMPHASIS towards animal sciences.