A $4.2 million federal investment for four new projects that will use genomic technologies to drive innovation and commercialization across diverse sectors was announced today by Minister of Science, Kirsty Duncan.
The projects are funded through Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP), which partners academic researchers with users of genomics to address problems identified by the user. The projects, funded over a maximum of three years, are expected to have considerable economic and social impacts within the near term.
The University of Alberta is collaborating with DowAgroSciences to enhance the commercial use of canola oil and meal. TheUniversity of Manitoba is partnering with Winnipeg-based Composites Innovation Centre to develop and test a vehicle prototype using a novel biocomposite made of flax fibre and binding resin. The University of Toronto is partnering with Trillium Therapeutics Inc. to realize the commercial potential of a novel therapeutic that fights cancer. The Université Lavalis partnering with GenePOC Inc. to develop a new instrument that can rapidly diagnose infections at the point-of-care.
Genomic-based solutions are at the core of these new tools, products and therapies, which will help Canadian industries capture a greater share of global markets, strengthen Canada’s economy and improve the health of Canadians.
The Government of Canada is investing $4.2 million of the $13.4 million total invested in these projects through Genome Canada, with the balance of investment supplied by partners including the provinces and private sector.
