UC Santa Cruz has been at the forefront of genomics since 1985, when campus scientists hosted a landmark meeting that helped spark the Human Genome Project. Fifteen years later, UCSC researchers achieved a breakthrough by providing the computational solution that produced the first complete assembly of the human genome—the map of human life.
Founded in 2014, the Genomics Institute builds on this legacy by leading the next great leap in genomic science. Now a University of California Organized Research Unit headquartered at the Westside Research Park, the institute continues to advance open science and collaboration, accelerating discoveries that save lives, protect biodiversity, and expand our understanding of the living world.
The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute harnesses the power of genomics—collaboratively, openly, and ethically—for the benefit of both humanity and the planet. Its researchers unite engineering, mathematics, and the biological and physical sciences to develop transformative innovations that advance human health and conservation. As an academic institute, it is equally committed to broadening STEM education locally and globally, empowering a diverse new generation of scientists to lead the genomic revolution with responsibility and vision.
