1st kick-off meeting to participate in the MoPS2 project

Background

This meeting was a follow up meeting from the meetings held on 29 May 2024 and 27 January 2025.

The MoPS portal (HERE, page 88) allows to analyse whole genome sequence (WGS) data for risk assessments by using three bioinformatic pipelines developed by EFSA (i.e. bacteria, fungi, viruses).  Currently, applicants do not have access to the MoPS portal. 

EFSA has initiated a project to further develop the MoPS portal to provide secure access for applicants to analyze their WGS data using EFSA's bioinformatic pipelines. The goal is to deliver an enhanced version of the MoPS portal (hereinafter called “MoPS2”). Ultimately allowing EFSA to obtain standardised and reliable WGS analyses for risk assessment, without asking applicants to submit raw data. 

In order to develop MoPS2, EFSA sought expressions of interest from applicants to test and verify the correct functioning of the three bioinformatic pipelines referred to above. The testing is expected to focus in particular on issues such as the characterization of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), detection of genes of concern, quality checks or identification of uncommon strains. 

On 15 May 2025, EFSA held a kick-off meeting with company representatives who had expressed interest in sharing whole genome sequence data of microorganisms to participate to the project. While participating companies will not act as co-developers, their opinions and experience will help EFSA fine-tune/test the MoPS portal. The pipelines codes will be refined as needed and published upon deployment of MoPS2.