MELBOURNE, Australia, 30 April 2019 — MGI, a division of global genomics leader BGI Group, announced that Micromon Genomics at Monash University is the first Australian commercial user of its high-throughput MGISEQ-2000 genetic sequencer. Located in the Biomedical Precinct at Clayton campus, Micromon provides DNA, RNA, single-cell and customised sequencing services to researchers across Australia.
Flexible, High-Throughput Sequencing for Australian Research
“This instrument precisely fits our yield requirements, giving us the flexibility to complete both small and large projects without needing to queue samples,” said Scott Coutts, NGS Manager at Micromon Genomics. “The data quality matches or exceeds that of alternative platforms, while substantially reducing service costs.”
The MGISEQ-2000 is a flexible production-scale sequencer supporting applications in research, clinical use, forensics, and agriculture. It delivers 18.75–1080 Gb per run with multiple read length options (SE50, SE100, PE100, PE150). A PE100 run at full capacity takes 48 hours, while a PE150 run completes in less than three days. Based on MGI’s proprietary DNBSEQ™ technology, the sequencer offers multi-mode sequencing with increased accuracy, reduced duplicates and minimized index hopping, all enabled by an innovative optical and biochemical system.
“Our vision is to enable effective and affordable life science solutions for all. We are proud to support Micromon’s high-quality NGS services,” said Duncan Yu, President of MGI. “With the help of our local distributor, we provide the best sequencing experience for Australian researchers.”
Local Support and Partnership with Decode Science
MGI has appointed Decode Science (DS) as its distributor in Australia and New Zealand. Together, MGI and DS provide product support, training, and after-sales service to new and existing users. “The combination of flexibility, robustness, and cost advantage is creating considerable interest among Australian researchers,” said Josh Warburton, CEO of DS.
MGI also maintains a local support team in Brisbane, offering commercial assistance, technical training, and after-sales service. Validation studies at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research confirmed high concordance in detecting germline and somatic variants compared to competitor platforms. Benchmark studies for single-cell RNA-seq further demonstrate the MGISEQ-2000’s capacity and economic advantages.
Global Impact and Recognition
MGI sequencers are installed in over 300 labs across 16 countries, with more than 1,000 units in operation and over 22 petabytes of cumulative data generated. Globally, the platform has earned more than 240 patents and contributed to over 250 publications. BGI’s integrated genomics expertise enables state-of-the-art sequencing and multi-omics solutions for research, clinical, and environmental applications worldwide.
About MGI
MGI Tech Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of BGI Group, develops sequencing devices, consumables and multi-omics platforms to support research, medicine, and healthcare. Its mission is to provide effective, affordable, and comprehensive solutions for life sciences and healthcare.
About BGI Group
Founded in 1999, BGI is one of the world’s largest genomics organisations, focused on advancing healthcare, pharmaceuticals, conservation, and environmental research through genomics technologies.
About Micromon Genomics
Micromon is a not-for-profit NGS facility at Monash University, offering DNA and RNA sequencing, Sanger long-read sequencing, and customised genomics services. With over 35 years of experience, Micromon is renowned for project design, management, and personalised researcher support.
