The BioInformatics and Genomics (BIG) platform of Institut Sophia Agrobiotech (ISA: INRAE - CNRS - Univ. Côte d'Azur) offers expertise in bioinformatics and solutions for processing, integrating, analyzing and visualizing multi-omics data in the field of plant health and protection.
The BIG platform is part of PlantBios (Biocontrol and Plant Biostimulation, Facilities and Expertise), labeled as a collective scientific infrastructure by INRAE. PlantBios has been ISO 9001 certified since June 2024. Since the end of 2020, BIG has been an IFB contributing platform.
The core of the BIG platform is composed of three bioinformatics engineers: Martine Da Rocha (from INRAE), Arthur Péré (from INRAE) and as operational manager Corinne Rancurel (from CNRS). The core is complemented by a scientific advisor: Etienne Danchin (INRAE senior scientist).
BIG has a main expertise in comparative genomics, transcriptomics and molecular evolution. More recently, BIG has been involved in epigenomics, small RNA as well as metagenomics studies. The tools and resources produced by BIG are made available to the scientific community (website, forge and integrative portals) and can address similar problems encountered in other research areas. In addition to methodological developments, the platform offers support and training to biologists in the use of bioinformatics tools and pipelines, including the one developed by BIG itself.