Since 2019, the 101 Genomes Foundation has been working in consortium with three organizations specializing in bioinformatics, genetics and algorithms (IB², CHG and MLG) on the Genomes4Brussels project co-funded by the Brussels region (Innoviris).
Genome4Brussels aims to create an ecosystem to optimize the development of bioinformatics tools for genome analysis and facilitate the transfer of innovation and knowledge acquired during the project to the general public.
Nassim Vesbraegen, bioinformatician at the (IB)², explains his role in this unusual consortium.
Ludivine: Can you sum up your academic career?
Nassim: I completed my BA and MA in computer science at the VUB. During my studies, I always focused on AI and biology. At present, I’m a PhD student at ULB in the (IB)² and the MLG.
L.: What is your past experience and how is it an asset for the Genome4Brussels project?
N. : I’ve been working on predictive tools to identify pathogenic bi-locus combinations and modifying variants within these combinations. I’m now turning this experience into the Genome4Brussels project, applying and further developing these tools in the context of Marfan syndrome.
L.: Can you tell us more about the tools you’re currently working on?
N. We’ve just finished creating a faster, more accurate version of VarCoPP: the first predictor of variant combinations. It is an oligo-genic predictive tool that aims to distinguish combinations of potentially pathogenic variants from benign ones.
In addition, I’m working on the creation of a cloud-based pipeline to enable the analysis of patient exomes. This pipeline integrates VarCoPP as a predictive tool, while maintaining the security required for this type of sensitive data.
L. : What do you think of the Genome4Brussels project?
