Skip to main content
REFBAR - Reinforcing network for enriched freshwater phytoplankton barcode library
13 January 2026

We are thrilled to announce the beginning of a new research project!

Founded by the European Union and supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the project started in January 2026 and has brought together an international, interdisciplinary network to advance eDNA metabarcoding and build a reliable genetic reference library for freshwater microalgae — a critical step for understanding aquatic ecosystems better than ever before.

ICTM, as a leading institution together with 7 partners across Europe and South America, we’ll be working on staff exchanges, developing cutting-edge molecular bioinformatics techniques, and improving long-read sequencing and (meta)barcoding standards. This project will help drive forward biodiversity research and open up new possibilities in environmental science.