GenRefBR: bridging the genetic information gap for Brazilian biodiversity

Large volumes of genomic data are continuously deposited in public repositories. However, retrieving and analyzing this information from a geographic or national perspective remains challenging, as most international databases do not require occurrence metadata such as country or locality during submission. To address this limitation and support research on Brazilian biodiversity, we developed GenRefBR (Genetic References from Brazil), the first web-based platform specifically designed to centralize, organize, and facilitate access to genomic information about Brazilian vertebrates’ biodiversity. GenRefBR compiles a wide array of genetic information, including mitochondrial markers, organellar genomes, and nuclear assemblies, organized alongside vital metadata for easy access. The platform enables users to easily search, filter, and download data, and provides direct links to original entries. By bridging this critical data gap, GenRefBR empowers researchers, conservationists, and environmental authorities to advance biodiversity research, environmental monitoring, and informed decision-making for conservation planning in Brazil. GenRefBR is publicly available at https://genrefbr.itv.org and the source code and supporting resources are available on GitHub ( https://github.com/itvgenomics/genrefbr-extractor ).