The Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) is a Cape Town–based non-profit national OMICS platform established in 2006. Supported by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); CPGR integrates world-class Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics under ISO 9001:2015 certification. The platform delivers high-quality, high-throughput OMICS solutions that drive South Africa’s biotechnology advancement from CPGR’s facility at 108 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town. By providing access to cutting-edge infrastructure and expertise, CPGR enables researchers without resources or in-house capacity to conduct advanced molecular biology studies. The Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) designs and executes both standard and custom projects, ranging from large-scale sequencing and molecular profiling to targeted OMICS approaches. The platform partners with academia, industry, and government to accelerate discovery. In doing so, CPGR lowers barriers to innovation and translates research into impact across healthcare, agriculture, and the life sciences.
Key Focus Areas
- World-class OMICS Infrastructure
State-of-the-art Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics platforms enabling high-throughput, high-quality molecular biology research.
- Accessible Expertise
Providing researchers with access to world-class technical guidance and scientific know-how.
- Standard & Custom Project Delivery
Executing projects from large-scale sequencing and molecular profiling to bespoke OMICS approaches tailored to specific research objectives. By keeping your projects in South Africa, CPGR delivers faster turnarounds and eliminates the delays and risks of sending precious samples overseas – which means getting results faster and smarter on South African soil.
- Strategic Partnerships
Collaborating with academia, industry, and government to accelerate discovery, translate research into impact, and support South Africa’s biotechnology sector.
- Innovation Enablement
Lowering barriers to scientific innovation through integrated services, third-generation OMICS infrastructure, and support that drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, and life sciences.
Key Projects
- DIPLOMICS
Hosted by CPGR, DIPLOMICS is a flagship initiative of the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR), established to strengthen OMICS capacity and enhance research quality across the country. The initiative drives high-impact projects, builds robust research infrastructure, and delivers comprehensive human capital development programmes. By broadening access to advanced OMICS technologies and expertise, DIPLOMICS fosters collaboration and innovation, positioning South Africa’s OMICS community for sustainable molecular biology breakthroughs.
- H3Africa
The H3Africa initiative represents the largest genomics research program on the African continent, and CPGR proudly hosts a key component of its operations. Since February 2018, CPGR has housed the Illumina iScan, a high-end microarray platform, enabling H3Africa and other African researchers to perform high-throughput array projects. The H3Africa genotyping array, designed specifically to capture African genomic variation and clinically relevant variants, has become an essential tool for advancing genomics research and understanding population-specific disease risks. Supported by Illumina, CPGR offers these services at reduced costs compared to standard commercial pricing, expanding access to advanced microarray capabilities across Africa.
- MADCaP Network
The Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) Network addresses one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most urgent health challenges. At the heart of this collaboration, CPGR generated high-quality genotypes using the UK Biobank Axiom Array, validating that African laboratories can deliver outputs on par with world-leading facilities. By providing infrastructure, expertise, and standardized workflows, CPGR enables large-scale genomic studies, strengthens local capacity, and positions South Africa as a continental hub for precision medicine and impactful biomedical research.
- D-CYPHR
The D-CYPHR platform combines the proteomics and metabolomics infrastructure of CPGR and the University of Cape Town’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) Core Facility to provide a comprehensive, end-to-end hub for protein and metabolite characterisation. Supported by DIPLOMICS, the hub offers access to advanced multi-Proteomics technologies, including Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and the Olink® system, enabling accelerated discovery in human health and biotechnology. Through this collaborative effort, D-CYPHR exemplifies how integrated infrastructure, and expertise can lower barriers to advanced molecular research. Since its inception, the hub has completed over 170 projects and improved sample throughput almost sevenfold when compared to the two entities operating on their own, helping to demonstrate how labs can work together to become more financially self-sustainable.
- CPGR Academy
The CPGR Academy is the skills development engine that equips the next generation of OMICS talent. Leveraging CPGR’s leadership in Genomics and Proteomics in South Africa, the Academy delivers both standardized and bespoke training facilitated by CPGR’s team of experts. Whether you’re upskilling or entering the field, CPGR Academy gets you OMICS-ready. The Academy offers practical onsite training at the CPGR’s laboratory, providing hands-on experience with advance OMICS workflows. The programme also offers the Foundation in OMICS (FiO) online course, delivered in partnership with LabVine, to expand theoretical knowledge and reach learners across South Africa.
- Hosting Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
CPGR hosts SMMES, such as Genetix and Marihealth, providing reduced lease and service fees, giving biotechnology startups access to OMICS infrastructure, expert guidance, and incubation resources. The platform empowers innovators to scale faster, leverage advanced technologies, and turn ideas into actionable research outcomes.
