Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC)

The Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) is an international research node dedicated to developing and delivering metabolic phenotyping services to benefit the global population. WAHTN worked with its partner organisations along with the WA State Government and the Australian Research Council to bring together the right expertise to build the ANPC in WA.

The ANPC was created to enhance large-scale metabolic phenotyping research in Australia and allows Australian scientists to be part of the global research effort working to transform health and improve disease prevention, detection and treatment. The human phenotype (the outward expression of our genes in each individual) is known as phenomics. The human phenotype captures information of both human biochemistry (as in blood, urine or tissue) and the influence of the microbiome (such as our gut bacteria). This allows an offering of new and precise insights into the changes caused by diseases or exposure to external agents such as the environment, diet or lifestyle choices. Phenomics allows for the development of a personalised medical insight.

The ANPC is the nation’s first phenome hub. It’s affiliated with the International Phenome Centre Network (IPCN) and shares an interest in building a global infrastructure around harmonised research information, data, methods, and technologies. A key part of the initiative is the harmonisation of instruments between the network members, ensuring samples can be run anywhere in the world and results can be shared.