What is REFUGE ?

REFUGE (The RicE FUnctional GEnomics platform) is an international hosting platform, based in Montpellier, Agropolis-Lavalette campus, France open to plant science community.

REFUGE offers an access to bioinformatic, biological, and molecular resources  and know-how allowing hosted scientists, including non rice specialists, to use rice as a model system to elucidate gene function through functional genomics strategies. Hosting of the scientists is typically carried out through one to several visits (from one week to 3 months) on the platform, REFUGE taking care of the materials produced between two visits.

REFUGE wishes to become an experience-sharing site for Scientists from the North and the South.

REFUGE is funded by Agropolis Fondation (http://www.agropolis-fondation.fr/) and set up by the AGAP (http://umr-dap.cirad.fr/) and DIADE (http://www.diade.ird.fr) units.

Objectives of the REFUGE platform

Host scientists, including non rice specialists, who aim at elucidating the function of their favourite genes through the use of rice as a model system. Facilitate their research on that system to produce high quality publications and further access to funding sources.

Set up optimum traceability and storage of materials in implementing quality in research on the platform .

Further develop methodological improvements enhancing attractiveness of the platform, such as in planta transformation, early determination of T-DNA integration and expression, inactivation of gene expression through artificial microRNA, targeted integration of T-DNA in the rice genome.

Besides REFUGE, project proposals are submitted to other funding sources by the founder units to develop new technologies which once optimized will be established as a new service on the platform.

Research aiming at setting up replacement and targeted integration of genes through homologous recombination are pursued. Beyond the hosting of scientists conducting their own research on the platform, REFUGE will organize 2-3 week hands-on workshops aiming at initiating scientists from the South to functional genomics strategies. Information will be provided on the web site.

Delphine Mieulet          Rosie Sévilla          Pauline Mayonove

                                   Pr. Emmanuel Guiderdoni director of the DAP unit (CIRAD)                   Pr. Alain Ghesquiere director of the LGDP unit (IRD)