Improving the World with Genomics Ryan Mercer, PhD Research - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ryan Mercer, PhD Research Manager – Genome Alberta U of A Research Funding Fair November 22nd, 2018

Improving the World with Genomics

• Brief Background
• Past & Present Funding

Opportunities

• Genome Alberta Support
• Success Stories & Building

Partnerships

Overview

2

Canada’s Genomics Enterprise

3

Genome Alberta is a publicly funded not-for-profit corporation which initiates, funds, and manages genomics research and partnerships.

Core Activities and Services

4

A Brief history

5

2000

• Genome Canada & 5 Regional Genome Centres (Genome BC, Genome Prairie,

Ontario Genomics Institute, Genome Québec, Genome Atlantic) established

2003

• Government of Alberta advances Life Sciences Strategy (genomics is an integral

component)

2005

• Genome Alberta (6th Regional Genome Centre) established after consultation

with Genome Canada, Industry Canada and the Province of Alberta

2015

• Genome Alberta initiates, funds and manages $155.6M in genomics research and

partnerships in its first 10 years of operation

2017

• Genome Alberta portfolio approaches $250M in genomics projects and

partnerships

Genomics

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The term genomics is defined here as the comprehensive study, using high throughput technologies, of the genetic information of a cell or organism and its functions . This includes related disciplines such as proteomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, pharmacogenomics, and bioinformatics.

Funding the Value Spectrum

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GE3LS Research

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Genomics and it’s Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Societal Aspects

• Integrates the social science and humanities research fields to

inform the appropriate development and ensure the uptake

• f genomics research in society
• Addressed the barriers to implementation of genomics

research

• Required GE3LS research components integrated into ALL

LSARP projects

• Genome Canada also funds stand-alone GE3LS projects

through the LSARP competitions

9

2018 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition (LSARP): Genomics Solutions for Agriculture, Agri-food, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Launched June, 2018

2018 LSARP

10 Aims to support projects that will demonstrate how genomics research can be translated into solutions that advance the sustainability, productive capacity and the resulting competitive position of the Canadian agriculture/agri-food and fisheries/aquaculture sector. Launch: June 2018 Scope: GC will invest $1 - $4 million in an individual project Funding Available: $30 million from Genome Canada, $16 million to support AAFC researchers Co-funding: 1:1 co-funding requirement from eligible sources Additional details on Genome Canada’s website

2018 LSARP – Timelines

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F2F Interview

Interview with review panel Funding Decision

Date Process June 2018 Launch of competition August 16, 2018 Deadline for submitting registrations to Genome Canada November 15, 2018 Deadline for submitting pre-applications to Genome Canada Late January 2019 Applicants notified of results of pre-application April 11, 2019 Deadline for full applications to Genome Canada Late May, 2019 Review committee meets (including meetings with applicants) Late June 2019 Decisions by Genome Canada and AAFC Late June 2019 Notification of Decision

We are here

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Eligible sources:

• In-kind contributions
• Industry cash
• VC or investment funds
• Federal, provincial, and

municipal governments

• Institutional funds
• International

collaborators Ineligible sources:

• Tri-council Funding
• Tri-council Programs

50% 15% 20% 10%5%

TOTAL BUDGET

Genome Canada International Partners Alberta Innovates Industry Cash Industry In-Kind

Example project budget and co-funding:

Competition – Support

13 1. Coordination and Facilitation

a) Mini-workshops b) Strategic Planning c) Stakeholder Meetings d) Support personnel and consultants e) External expert review f) Mock-panel

2. Financial

a) Travel/Accommodation for Team Members b) Writing/Coordination Support

Past, Present & Future

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15

Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP)

Ongoing Competition

Bridging the Gap…

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• Scope: funds projects from $300,000 up to $6 million in total size
• Co-funding: Genome Canada will provide 1/3, End-user(s) must provide at

least 1/3, remaining 1/3 must come from eligible sources.

• Term: minimum term of 6 months, maximum term of 3 years

GAPP

17 User:

• Companies, industry consortia,

government departments or agencies, or not-for-profits that have a credible plan for exploiting project results for the socio-economic benefit of Canada Academic:

• An independent investigator who

is a faculty member employed by a Canadian post-secondary

• rganization or affiliated

institutions (hospitals and research institutes)

• Researchers from not-for-profit
• rganizations with explicit

research mandate (including Provincial labs)

1. Respond to the objectives 2. Active partnership between Academic and User 3. Propose to utilize or develop a genomics derived solution 4. Address key challenges or opportunities defined by the user (User “pull”) 5. Focus on downstream R&D activities with measurable impact Applications are accepted on a rolling intake and are reviewed quarterly

GAPP – Eligibility

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A real world challenge:

• Bloodstream infections cause

8,000 deaths per year in Canada

• Microbiology testing delays

directly contribute to deaths around the world

• Currently takes 2-5 days for tests

Device for the rapid detection of six common bloodstream infections and assessment of antibiotic susceptibility

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A microscale metabolomics solution:

• Microscale testing takes <6 hours, increasing

survival rates 5x higher

• Project aims to refine, enhance, and validate

the microscale metabolomics prototype device

Ian Lewis, University of Calgary & Deirdre Church, Calgary Laboratory Services

$6 Million total project budget

Commercial opportunity:

• Sub-optimal genetic improvement rate at

nucleus level

• Sub-optimal expression of nucleus

improvement at commercial level

Development of Genomic Crossbred Estimated Breeding Values to maximize profitability for Canadian pork producers

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Project goal:

• Develop and validate a superior

genomic selection tool to increase the rate and transfer of genetic improvement to the commercial pork producer

Graham Plastow, University of Alberta & Bob Kemp, Genesus Inc.

• Approx. $3.4 Million project budget

Retailers & Food Service Packers & Processors Commercial Pork Producers Multiplication Nucleus Consumers

Genetics Industry

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Partnership Development

• Applied Livestock Genomics Program

(ALGP) I/II

• Rapid Response to PEDv
• LSARP 2014
• Listeria monocytogenes – Emerging issue
• Alberta Precision Health Initiative (APHI)
• LSARP 2017
• Alberta Applied Agricultural Genomics

Program (A3GP)

• LSARP 2018

Technology Platforms

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The Metabolomics Innovation Centre

Comprehensive, Quantitative Metabolomics Services

www.metabolomicscentre.ca

Services and Assays

Full descriptions, metabolite panels and prices available at www.metabolomicscentre.ca

Business, Collaborations and Project Inquiries Jennifer Reid, Business Development Manager jennifer.reid@ualberta.ca Scientific and Technical Inquiries

• Dr. David Wishart, Director

dwishart@ualberta.ca

• Dr. Rupa Mandal, Facilities Manager

rmandal@ualberta.ca

Contact Information Contact Information

www.metabolomicscentre.ca

Q&A and Discussion

26 Ryan Mercer, Research Manager Rmercer@gneomealberta.ca Niall Kerrigan, Program Officer NKerrigan@genomealberta.ca Anita Ludwar, Business Development Officer Aludwar@genomealberta.ca For more information and to stay up to date, please visit our website: http://genomealberta.ca/funding/