Research Project

Genome Resource Core Facility

Lead Investigator(s): 
Stephen Scherer and Lap-Chee Tsui
Funding: 
$14.7 M
Institution: 
Hospital for Sick Children
Start Date: 
October 1, 2001
End Date: 
March 31, 2005

Summary

The Genome Resource Core (GRC) facility provided traditional and advanced facilities and resources for investigators to perform innovative and cost-effective genomics research. It consisted of three elements:  The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG), Gene Profiling Facility, and the Mouse Genotyping Facility. TCAG served as the central unit, collecting samples, analysing genomes and statistics, sequencing DNA, and performing other genetic assays.  The Gene Profiling Facility identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and offered genotyping services.  The Mouse Genotyping Facility provided mouse genotyping and genome scans to identify links between genes and disease. 

Fast Facts

  • Highlighted outcome: Many invaluable research findings, including the first published sequence of human chromosome 7
  • Number of research personnel: Trained more than 200 highly qualified personnel.
  • Number of patents in process or obtained: 2 patents and 6 provisional patents.
  • and the discovery of genes involved in autism, brain cancer, and Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.

Notable Publications
Scherer SW, Cheung J, MacDonald JR, Osborne LR, Nakabayashi K, Herbrick JA, Carson AR, Parker-Katiraee L, Skaug J, Khaja R, Zhang J, Hudek AK, Li M, Haddad M, Duggan GE, Fernandez BA, Kanematsu E, Gentles S, Christopoulos CC, Choufani S, Kwasnicka D, Zheng XH, Lai Z, Nusskern D, Zhang Q, Gu Z, Lu F, Zeesman S, Nowaczyk MJ, Teshima I, Chitayat D, Shuman C, Weksberg R, Zackai EH, Grebe TA, Cox SR, Kirkpatrick SJ, Rahman N, Friedman JM, Heng HH, Pelicci PG, Lo-Coco F, Belloni E, Shaffer LG, Pober B, Morton CC, Gusella JF, Bruns GA, Korf BR, Quade BJ, Ligon AH, Ferguson H, Higgins AW, Leach NT, Herrick SR, Lemyre E, Farra CG, Kim HG, Summers AM, Gripp KW, Roberts W, Szatmari P, Winsor EJ, Grzeschik KH, Teebi A, Minassian BA, Kere J, Armengol L, Pujana MA, Estivill X, Wilson MD, Koop BF, Tosi S, Moore GE, Boright AP, Zlotorynski E, Kerem B, Kroisel PM, Petek E, Oscier DG, Mould SJ, Dohner H, Dohner K, Rommens JM, Vincent JB, Venter JC, Li PW, Mural RJ, Adams MD, and Tsui LC. 2003. Human chromosome 7: DNA sequence and biology. Science. 300(5620):767-72.

Boocock GR, Morrison JA, Popovic M, Richards N, Ellis L, Durie PR, and Rommens JM. 2003. Mutations in SBDS are associated with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Nat. Genet. 33(1):97-101.

Poutanen SM, Low DE, Henry B, Finkelstein S, Rose D, Green K, Tellier R, Draker R, Adachi D, Ayers M, Chan AK, Skowronski DM, Salit I, Simor AE, Slutsky AS, Doyle PW, Krajden M, Petric M, Brunham RC, McGeer AJ; National Microbiology Laboratory, Canada; and Canadian Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Study Team. 2003. Identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Canada. N. Engl. J. Med. 348(20):1995-2005.

Taylor MD, Liu L, Raffel C, Hui C, Mainprize TG, Zhang X, Agatep R, Chiappa S, Gao L, Lowrance A, Hao A, Goldstein AM, Stavrou T, Scherer SW, Dura WT, Wainwright B, Squire JA, Rutka  JT, and Hogg D. 2002. Mutations in SUFU predispose to medulloblastoma.  Nat. Genet. 31:306-10.

Autism Genome Project Consortium, Szatmari P, Paterson AD, Zwaigenbaum L, Roberts W, Brian J, Liu XQ, Vincent JB, Skaug JL, Thompson AP, Senman L, Feuk L, Qian C, Bryson SE, Jones MB, Marshall CR, Scherer SW, Vieland VJ, Bartlett C, Mangin LV, Goedken R, Segre A, Pericak-Vance MA, Cuccaro ML, Gilbert JR, Wright HH, Abramson RK, Betancur C, Bourgeron T, Gillberg C, Leboyer M, Buxbaum JD, Davis KL, Hollander E, Silverman JM, Hallmayer J, Lotspeich L, Sutcliffe JS, Haines JL, Folstein SE, Piven J, Wassink TH, Sheffield V, Geschwind DH, Bucan M, Brown WT, Cantor RM, Constantino JN, Gilliam TC, Herbert M, Lajonchere C, Ledbetter DH, Lese-Martin C, Miller J, Nelson S, Samango-Sprouse CA, Spence S, State M, Tanzi RE, Coon H, Dawson G, Devlin B, Estes A, Flodman P, Klei L, McMahon WM, Minshew N, Munson J, Korvatska E, Rodier PM, Schellenberg GD, Smith M, Spence MA, Stodgell C, Tepper PG, Wijsman EM, Yu CE, Roge B, Mantoulan C, Wittemeyer K, Poustka A, Felder B, Klauck SM, Schuster C, Poustka F, Bolte S, Feineis-Matthews S, Herbrecht E, Schmotzer G, Tsiantis J, Papanikolaou K, Maestrini E, Bacchelli E, Blasi F, Carone S, Toma C, Van Engeland H, de Jonge M, Kemner C, Koop F, Langemeijer M, Hijimans C, Staal WG, Baird G, Bolton PF, Rutter ML, Weisblatt E, Green J, Aldred C, Wilkinson JA, Pickles A, Le Couteur A, Berney T, McConachie H, Bailey AJ, Francis K, Honeyman G, Hutchinson A, Parr JR, Wallace S, Monaco AP, Barnby G, Kobayashi K, Lamb JA, Sousa I, Sykes N, Cook EH, Guter SJ, Leventhal BL, Salt J, Lord C, Corsello C, Hus V, Weeks DE, Volkmar F, Tauber M, Fombonne E, and Shih A. 2007.  Mapping autism risk loci using genetic linkage and chromosomal rearrangements. Nat. Genet. 39(3):319-28.