The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) is one of the Novartis international Corporate Research institutes. GNF applies integrated state-of-the-art technologies in chemistry, biology, automation, and information sciences in order to pursue new approaches towards the understanding of complex biomedical problems in cancer biology, immunology, neuroscience, and metabolic as well as infectious disease.  These technologies cut across the life sciences, and include genomics and proteomics tools, medicinal chemistry, cell-based high throughput screening of genes or compounds, structural genomics, and forward/reverse mammalian genetics.

The mission of the Institute is to exploit these technologies to identify new biological processes and understand the underlying mechanisms involved in human disease. These discoveries are being translated into human therapeutics through an internal preclinical drug discovery effort coupled with further developmental activities with Novartis. GNF was founded in 1999, and currently houses close to 500 employees. The location of the 260,000 square foot research center is in the heart of the Torrey Pines Science Park, and is within walking distance of numerous other centers of research excellence, including the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and the University of California, San Diego.  This unique environment potentiates a wide range of scientific interactions through seminars and collaborations.  Additionally, GNF operates a 15,000 square foot facility for the commercial manufacture of high throughput instrumentation.

The Institute is funded through the Novartis Research Foundation, which provides GNF the freedom to conduct independent basic and applied research. This relationship has allowed GNF to develop a unique environment and accompanying technological infrastructure not found in any university or commercial pharmaceutical setting. This infrastructure includes state-of-the-art high throughput screening systems capable of evaluating millions of compounds per day in biochemical or cellular assays, automated protein production, purification and crystallography instrumentation that enable high throughput structural genomics studies, and functional profiling systems that facilitate genome-wide cellular assessments of gene function.

At GNF, scientists are encouraged to use these tools to pursue innovative basic, translational, and drug discovery research in a highly collaborative environment.  In addition to scientists within Novartis, GNF also fosters active collaborations with researchers at academic institutions, non-profit foundations, and federal granting agencies.  This collaborative spirit is exemplified by GNF’s Academic Screening Program, through which such researchers can access GNF’s high throughput small molecule and genomics screening capacity.