The German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI) is a national, distributed academic infrastructure established to support life sciences and biomedical research in Germany and Europe. It offers a comprehensive suite of bioinformatics services, including cutting-edge software tools, scalable cloud computing resources (de.NBI Cloud), tailored training programs and industry connections. The network comprises eight interconnected Service Centers, benefiting from contributions by 24 partner institutions and approximately 150 bioinformaticians. This collaborative structure ensures researchers have access to state-of-the-art resources and expertise.
Since 2016, de.NBI has also served as the foundation for ELIXIR Germany, the German node of the European life sciences infrastructure, ELIXIR. This integration effectively merges the two entities within a unified operational framework. ELIXIR Europe, which connects life science resources from 22 countries plus EMBL, harnessing bioinformatics expertise and tools to facilitate data-driven discovery across disciplines. It coordinates these resources into a single infrastructure, streamlining the process for scientists to find and share data, exchange expertise and establish best practices.
de.NBI and ELIXIR Germany are coordinated by IBG-5 (Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Computational Metagenomics) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, which specializes in developing innovative bioinformatics tools and pipelines for microbial microbiome analysis.
Supported by the BMBF, the network foster scientific collaboration and innovation at national and European levels, addressing challenges in bioinformatics, computational biology and medicine.
Services
de.NBI and ELIXIR Germany offer a wide range of bioinformatics services to support life sciences research, including tools, pipelines, databases and consulting. Their expertise spans cloud resources and bioinformatics for genomics, metagenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, lipidomics in humans, microbes and plants, RNA bioinformatics, systems biology and integrative bioinformatics as well as research data management. These services enhance data-driven research, fostering scientific progress in both academia and industry.
Training
The network offers extensive training programs centered on the services provided, aimed to advance bioinformatics expertise. The courses are specifically designed around topics like data analysis, software usage, accompanied by computational applications. Available both online and in-person, these workshops cater to all skill levels, fostering knowledge exchange and skills development. Tailored to researchers’ needs, they empower the life sciences community with essential bioinformatics competencies.
Cloud
The de.NBI Cloud provides powerful cloud computing resources tailored to data- and life sciences research in Germany. It supports data analysis, large-scale computations, and hosting of tools and resources. Offering flexible, scalable infrastructure, the cloud enables researchers to handle complex workflows efficiently. With free access for academic use, it fosters innovation and collaboration across the scientific community.
The de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany network, supported by sustainable funding from the BMBF, is dedicated to developing and expanding bioinformatics expertise within Germany and beyond. This collaborative academic initiative encompasses eight service centers, 24 partner institutions, and a team of approximately 150 bioinformaticians. It provides over 160 bioinformatics tools to more than 20,000 users engaged in life sciences and biomedical research. Since its inception in 2015, the network has organized over 380 training courses, educating more than 10,500 users, thus enhancing skill development and promoting collaboration across academia and industry.
As the national ELIXIR Node, de.NBI integrates these resources into a pan-European framework connecting 22 countries. ELIXIR Europe uses a hub-and-node model to centralise bioinformatics expertise from across Europe, consolidating it into databases, software, and training portfolio that significantly advance life sciences research. Additionally, the de.NBI Cloud, coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich’s IBG-5, provides over 40,000 CPU cores and petabyte-scale storage, facilitating the execution of large-scale scientific workflows within this research community.
Testimonials
"I am working on actinorhizal symbioses. EDGAR has been my go-to web site over the years for the analysis of Frankia genomes. In particular, the option to perform core genome phylogeny (instead of trying the next phylogenetic marker that does not work for all subclades) has been invaluable."
Prof. Katharina Pawlowski Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
"Our lab specializes in Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology, focusing on genetic systems that enable bacterial adaptation to environmental conditions. My team and I have benefited greatly from attending courses offered by de.NBI, which have significantly impacted our research. The courses were taught by highly specialized speakers and tutors who not only shared valuable tools and experiences but also created a friendly and conducive learning environment."
Prof. Dr. Gonzalo Torres Tejerizo
Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina
"In my bioinformatics project, I analyze single-cell data to study cellular heterogeneity in tissues. The de.NBI Cloud has been essential, offering a reliable computational environment for tasks like preprocessing, quality control, and downstream analyses. Its robust tools, high-performance computing, and user-friendly interface streamline workflows, enabling efficient and effective single-cell research."
Prof. Dr. Rolf Backofen, Bioinformatics Workgroup, Technical Faculty - University of Freiburg, Germany
Contact
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG)
- Computational Metagenomics (IBG-5)
Room M3.111
Reference Publications
Gesundhyte 15/23, "The de.NBI network: Continuation of activities as an established bioinformatics infrastructure", A. Pühler, A. Sczyrba, A. Tauch
Bioinformatics, 2021,., ELIXIR: providing a sustainable infrastructure for life science data at European scale, Harrow et al.
Briefings in Bioinformatics 04/17, "Bioinformatics in Germany: toward a national-level infrastructure", A. Tauch
Belmann P., Fischer B., Krüger J., Procházka M., Rasche H, Prinz M., Hanussek M., Lang M., Bartusch F., Gläßle B., Krüger J., Pühler A., Sczyrba A.., de.NBI Cloud federation through ELIXIR AAI. F1000Res. 2019 Jun 10;8:842. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.19013.1. PMID: 31354949; PMCID: PMC6635982.
de.NBI Cloud Brochure (08/2022)