MuG · Project

3D Genome Browser and Simulation Platform for Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine your DNA isn't just a long string of letters — it's actually folded up like origami inside every cell, and the way it folds changes which genes turn on or off. Hundreds of labs worldwide study this folding, but they all use different tools that don't talk to each other, making it nearly impossible to see the full picture. MuG built a single platform — essentially a Google Maps for the 3D genome — that lets researchers browse, simulate, and connect data across all scales, from individual DNA letters to the shape of entire chromosomes. The project brought together 6 partners across 4 countries to create this computational infrastructure using high-performance computing.

By the numbers

Research partners in consortium

Countries represented (DE, ES, FR, UK)

Total deliverables produced

EUR 2,961,163

EU funding received

Industry participation ratio

The business problem

What needed solving

Understanding how DNA folds in 3D is critical for explaining gene regulation and disease mechanisms, but the field is fragmented — labs use incompatible tools, disconnected databases, and there are no standardized ways to integrate data across different scales. Companies working in precision medicine and genomics-based drug discovery cannot easily access or combine this multi-scale information to identify new targets.

The solution

What was built

MuG built a 3D genome browser that connects 1D sequence data, 2D interaction maps, and 3D structural models in a single visualization platform with multiple rendering options. They also delivered prototype analysis and mining tools, a complete computational infrastructure running on HPC, and a tailored implementation tested with the Yeast Genome viewer. In total, 34 deliverables were produced.

Audience

Who needs this

Pharmaceutical R&D teams studying gene regulation for drug target discoveryCommercial bioinformatics companies needing multi-scale genomic data integrationPrecision medicine startups analyzing 3D chromatin structure for diagnosticsAgricultural biotech firms connecting genome structure to crop traitsGenomics core facilities managing diverse datasets from multiple experimental techniques

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceuticals

enterprise

Target: Drug discovery companies working on gene-regulation-based therapies

If you are a pharma company struggling to understand why certain genetic variants cause disease while others don't — MuG developed a 3D genome browser that connects 1D sequence data, 2D interaction maps, and 3D structural models in a single platform. This lets your researchers visualize how DNA folding affects gene expression, potentially identifying new drug targets that flat genome data would miss. The platform was built with high-performance computing support from 6 research partners across 4 countries.

Genomics Services

mid-size

Target: Commercial genomics and bioinformatics companies offering analysis services

If you are a genomics company dealing with massive, noisy datasets from different experimental techniques that don't integrate well — MuG built standardized analysis and simulation tools specifically for multi-scale genomic data. Their computational infrastructure handles data from radically different length and timescales, solving the exact integration problem that slows down your analysis pipelines. The project produced 34 deliverables including prototype mining tools and a complete computational infrastructure.

Agricultural Biotechnology

enterprise

Target: Crop science companies using genomics for trait improvement

If you are an agri-biotech company trying to connect genetic markers to crop traits but finding that simple sequence analysis misses important regulatory mechanisms — MuG's 3D genome browser allows visualization and analysis of how chromatin structure controls gene expression. Understanding these 3D regulatory patterns could help explain why some genetic modifications produce expected results while others don't. The browser supports different data renderings and was pilot-tested with yeast genome data.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access or license this platform?

Based on available project data, MuG was funded as a Research and Innovation Action with EUR 2,961,163 in EU contribution across 6 partners. The project produced open research infrastructure. Licensing terms are not specified in the deliverables, but as an EU-funded e-Infrastructure project, core components are likely available under open-access terms. Contact the coordinator for specific commercial licensing arrangements.

Can this platform handle industrial-scale genomic datasets?

MuG was specifically designed to address the challenge of integrating huge, noisy, and diverse datasets across different size and timescales. The final computational infrastructure was built on high-performance computing facilities. However, it was developed for and tested in research environments, not commercial production settings.

What is the IP situation and who owns the technology?

The project was coordinated by IRB Barcelona (Fundació Institut de Recerca Biomèdica) with 5 other research organizations. With 0% industry participation and funding under the EINFRA-9-2015 topic, the IP likely resides with the research consortium. Standard Horizon 2020 rules apply — partners own their results but must grant access for further research use.

What specifically was built and delivered?

The project delivered a 3D genome browser connecting 1D, 2D, and 3D data tracks with different rendering options, prototype analysis tools for data mining, and a complete computational infrastructure. A tailored implementation was created for pilot projects including an interface with the Yeast Genome viewer. In total, 34 deliverables were produced.

How mature is this technology for commercial deployment?

MuG produced working prototypes including the 3D browser and analysis tools, and tested them with pilot projects. However, with zero industrial partners in the consortium and a purely research-oriented team, the platform was not designed for commercial deployment. Significant adaptation would be needed for integration into commercial bioinformatics workflows.

Is there ongoing support or development after the project ended?

The project closed in October 2018. Based on available project data, the project website was at multiscalegenomics.eu. Continued maintenance depends on the research partners' ongoing activities. IRB Barcelona, as coordinator, would be the primary contact for current status and any follow-up initiatives.

Consortium

Who built it

The MuG consortium consists of 6 partners across 4 countries (Germany, Spain, France, UK) — all from research institutions with zero industry participation. The coordinator is IRB Barcelona, a leading biomedical research foundation in Spain. With 5 research organizations and 1 university, no SMEs, and 0% industry ratio, this is a purely academic consortium. For a business looking to adopt this technology, the absence of any commercial partner means there is no established path to market, no industry-tested deployment, and no company currently packaging this as a product. Any commercialization would require partnership with or licensing from the academic consortium.

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA BIOMEDICA (IRB BARCELONA)Coordinator · ES
EUROPEAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORYparticipant · DE
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAMparticipant · UK
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
FUNDACIO CENTRE DE REGULACIO GENOMICAparticipant · ES
BARCELONA SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER CENTRO NACIONAL DE SUPERCOMPUTACIONparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

IRB Barcelona (Fundació Institut de Recerca Biomèdica), Spain — reach out to their technology transfer office for licensing discussions

Order a report on this consortium See FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA BIOMEDICA (IRB BARCELONA) profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can broker an introduction to the MuG research team and help structure a licensing or collaboration agreement tailored to your genomics needs.

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