Environment and Climate Change Canada is leading development of the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy—a shared vision for halting and reversing biodiversity loss in Canada. Genomics can be an integral part of accelerating that vision. Stewardship and monitoring of our biodiversity are leading activities of Genome Canada and the Canadian Genomics Enterprise that can lead to actionable insights for biodiversity conservation. These range from using environmental DNA techniques to monitor land, freshwater, marine and Arctic ecosystems, to working on stewardship of at-risk species in Canada, including critical species such as caribou, bison and the North Atlantic right whale. Adding genomics tools and technologies to the suite of solutions for biodiversity challenges will help protect and adapt healthy ecosystems in Canada and globally in the context of climate change and natural disasters. In July 2023, the Canadian Genomics Enterprise made a submission in response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Biodiversity Strategy Consultation.  

With collaboration across the Canadian Genomics Enterprise.

Read our full 2022-23 annual report here.

Genome Canada and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) are proud to invest more than $890,000 in 30 Knowledge Synthesis Grants (KSGs) to map and mobilize research on shifting the dynamics of privilege and marginalization in Canada. Five of the projects awarded focus on genomics, a game-changing science and platform technology with potential for far-reaching societal impact through its many applications.

Investing in inclusive genomics research and innovation shaped by diverse perspectives and communities is vital to addressing current and historic inequities, and to ensuring the benefits of genomics are shared by all Canadians.

The KSG recipients announced today will:

• Inform the development of effective tools, technologies, policies and sustainable practices—charting a more prosperous and equitable future for Canadians.
• Enable recipients to explore how the world’s power dynamics are being shaped, at individual, community and societal levels as the result of socio-political events, new technologies (including genomics), the new mis/information age and the COVID-19 pandemic among other factors.

A new project funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will use the power of genomics to deliver nature-based solutions for pest management, reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability.

Announced in April 2023, a new investment of $56.7 million will support the latest round of GAPP projects, fuelling late-stage research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including a $4 million investment in sustainable agriculture.

Two new projects funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will harness the power of genomics technology to drive environmental protection in Canada, mitigating the effects of climate change and preserving the health and safety of humans, animals and the environment.

Announced in April 2023, a new investment of $56.7 million will support the latest round of GAPP projects, fuelling late-stage research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including a $10.2 million investment in environmental protection.

A new project funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will harness the power of genomics to extract critical minerals from mining waste streams using energy-efficient methods—reducing waste and driving environmental protection in the mining industry.

Genome Canada is investing $56.7 million through the Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP), from the federal government and local partners, to support downstream research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including a $6 million investment supporting environmental protection for the mining industry.

A new project funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will deploy genomic testing of wastewater—promoting public health, safeguarding economic performance and providing vital information to health authorities. 

Genome Canada is investing $56.7 million through the Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP), from the federal government and local partners, to support downstream research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including $6 million for wastewater surveillance.

Setting Canadian humility aside, when it comes to genomics—the science of life’s operating system—Canada is among the world’s leaders and within reach of becoming a global powerhouse.

Canada’s strategic advantage in genomics presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to harness long-term growth, low-carbon productivity and a healthier future for Canadians. 

The federal government took a major step forward when it announced a $400 million Pan-Canadian Genomics Strategy in Budget 2021. The March 14, 2023 release of a “What We Heard” report on the strategy underlines the commitment and ambition of scientists, students, industry, research organizations and funders, including 20+ years of leadership by Genome Canada and a pan-Canadian network of six regional Genome Centres.

The consensus is clear: we must double down on data, talent, commercialization and collaboration. Anything less risks our hard-won competitive edge.

Canadian scientists are using genomics to improve our health, develop climate-resistant crops, protect endangered wildlife, decode new COVID-19 variants, and harness microbes to reduce the environmental impact of critical mineral mining for electric vehicles. A national genomics strategy will lay vital groundwork to build on these successes—and just in time—as other countries intensify their investments in this space.

The US recently dialed up support for research and development with a $280 billion investment through the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022. Their ambitious All of Us Project will collect health data from more than a million Americans to accelerate research breakthroughs. The UK, France, Finland and other EU nations have also launched large-scale national genomic data initiatives.

These countries recognize that large genomic data sets—from which we can identify trends and generate actionable insights—are the greatest resource of the new economy. They will revolutionize health, food systems and the environment.

We are already developing large-scale genomics data sets from intergovernmental public health efforts. Data in the Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal and CGEn’s HostSeq Databank, for example, have been crucial to tracking COVID-19 and researching its impact. Similarly, Genome Canada’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative will harness genomic data to reduce the carbon footprint of food production systems.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum science are essential to harnessing this data’s value. The good news is that Canada has just launched AI and quantum strategies, providing an opportunity for alignment across these key policy areas and maximizing the Pan-Canadian Genomics Strategy’s impact.

Big data is one part of the story. Developing genomics talent is another. Genome Canada has supported more than 6,700 trainees through research investments since 2000. Meanwhile, initiatives like the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics are building new capacity and scientific literacy in genomics, ensuring more equitable access to, and benefit from, these technologies.

This next generation of genomics innovators is developing and commercializing made-in-Canada solutions with global impact. Last year, the World Economic Forum named Toronto-based startup DNAstack a Technology Pioneer for its software technologies enabling global discovery, access and analysis of exponentially growing volumes of genomic and clinical data. And Life Sciences Ontario just named it company of the year.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. We know Canada’s got game when it comes to big genomics data, talent and commercialization. But this country is vast and complex, with varied genomics research capacity and commercialization opportunities in every region. We need to collaborate and coordinate better to maximize this opportunity to build a productive, knowledge-based economy. 

To realize this vision for Canada’s economy, alignment between our science policy and economic policy is a must. The Advisory Panel Report on the Federal Research Support System (The “Bouchard” report), released in March 2023, provides fresh direction in this regard, underlining the need for an updated national strategy for science and research that ensures alignment between academic training and research, and economic needs and implementation.

For genomics science in particular, Canada has established its competitive advantage over many OECD nations—we just need to keep our eyes on the prize. Doubling down on genomic data, talent, commercialization and collaboration will secure Canada’s global leadership, and major economic benefits, in the genomics revolution.  

To those listening, the recent “What We Heard” report tells us that Canada’s genomics community is ready to seize this moment and deliver results now.

(Photo above: COVID-19 testing at the lab at Calgary’s South Health Campus. (Alberta Precision Laboratories))

Three new projects funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will harness the power of genomics to transform healthcare treatment for patients across the country.

Announced in April 2023, a new investment of $56.7 million will support the latest round of GAPP projects, fuelling late-stage research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including $8 million fuelling advances in healthcare diagnosis and treatment.

Five new projects funded through Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) will harness the power of genomics to deliver precision health solutions—speeding up diagnosis and improving health outcomes and disease management for Canadians.

Announced in April 2023, a new investment of $56.7 million will support the latest round of GAPP projects, fuelling late-stage research and development (R&D) projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges, including a $22.9 million investment in precision health.