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Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal – Request For Proposals

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The purpose of this request for proposals is to adapt, or re-purpose, an existing platform to build a Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal that will contain genomic sequences and minimal metadata and will facilitate broad access to this data. The Data Portal will be mirrored to GISAID and will contain a centralized, replicated environment for data storage and analysis in Canada. To protect the data and the confidentiality of people diagnosed with COVID-19, the dehosted viral genome data and minimal metadata contained in the public Data Portal will not include any identifiable personal data. To the extent possible, data from the Data Portal will be deposited into global public databases, such as GISAID, to contribute to international efforts to track viral evolution. The overall objective of the Data Portal is to enhance the value of sequence data by creating an integrated dataset with minimal metadata and a real-time dashboard summarizing all SARS-CoV-2 genomic data available in Canada for the purpose of advancing research and informing public health at a national and international level.

This funding is not for a research project. The objective is to provide a service to the research community by enabling access to the SARS-CoV-2 genomic data and minimal metadata. The provider of this service will have no special access to the data, for research or other purposes, beyond improving infrastructure within the scope of this project.

The overall objective is to move this initiative forward as quickly as possible to ensure a Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal is in place in the shortest possible timeframe. The call for proposals will be launched on February 24, 2021 with a deadline for proposal submission to CanCOGeN of March 3, 2021. The review panel will meet on March 8, 2021. Questions regarding the process and submission of the proposal should be directed toward CanCOGeN staff, specifically, Koko Agborsangaya kagborsangaya@genomecanada.ca.

Canada’s Bio-Revolution Webinar Series – New Frontiers in Food Production: Growing Stronger with Cellular Agriculture

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New Frontiers in Food Production: Growing Stronger with Cellular Agriculture

On October 27, 2020 Ontario Genomics in partnership with the Global Institute for Food Security and the Growing Stronger initiative from Arrell Food Institute and Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute showcased the second Canada\’s Bio-Revolution 2020 Webinar Series, “New Frontiers in Food Production: Growing Stonger with Cellular Agriculture.”

The panel focused on the future of Canada\’s food system and how it can benefit from new technologies, including cellular agriculture (using cells to make food products, e.g. meat, dairy, eggs, alternative proteins, ingredients) and the role they can play in creating “made-in-Canada” solutions for a more resilient food supply chain in a post-COVID world.

This much-needed conversation presented diverse voices and perspectives from across the value chains of leading Canadian experts – researchers, industry, funders and advocates, to generate collaboration and amplify new ideas. In case you missed this virtual event, you can watch it here on demand.

Topics include:

  • The current state of play for cellular agriculture,
  • The opportunities and potential barriers,
  • How genomics/engineering biology can help and how this can contribute to sustainability.

Speakers include:

  • Opening Remarks: Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President & CEO, Ontario Genomics and Chair, National Engineering Biology Steering Committee
  • Moderator: Dr. Steven Webb, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, the Global Institute for Food Security, Member of National Engineering Biology Steering Committee
  • Maria Pepe, Vice President, Research & Development, Lactalis,Canada/Parmalat
  • Isha Datar, Executive Director, New Harvest
  • Dr. Ralph Christian Delos Santos, CEO & Co-Founder Biofect Innovations
  • Dr. Lenore Newman, Canada Research Chair, Food Security and Environment, University of the Fraser Valley

Ontario’s cutting-edge genomics projects attract over $40 million in investment

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October 26, 2020 – Today the Government of Canada and Genome Canada announced two (2) Ontario-led and two (2) Ontario co-led projects that are bringing a total of $40.1 million in investment into Ontario.  

Today’s announcement includes funding to support a two-year pilot project by the international Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) that in this Phase V project will help transform drug discovery and biomedicine by the year 2035. In collaboration with industry, SGC will harness open science and employ innovative strategies including artificial intelligence to develop tools to better understand proteins involved in many cancers and other debilitating and rare diseases.

Ontario Genomics is so proud to be working with these talented teams. These programs fund translational research and development projects that address real-world challenges and opportunities as identified by industry, government, not-for-profits, and other “receptors” of genomics knowledge and technology. This funding will help Ontario’s leading researchers produce dramatic breakthroughs in agriculture, health, environment, and across the bioeconomy.

Learn more about the projects announced today:

Learn more about this announcement: Genome Canada News Release

Ontario Genomics announces changes to the Board of Directors

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Ontario Genomics is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to our Board of Directors.

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO of Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, is a distinguished and nationally recognized senior executive with nearly 30 years of success in the post-secondary sector. She was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the College of the North Atlantic, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, from 2011-2016. Dr. Vaughan also held positions at Memorial University; the Marine Institute of Memorial University; the National Research Council; the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and the Human Resources Development Canada (now Service Canada). Ann Marie has been honoured internationally for her contributions to distance education and educational technology and was chosen as a participant in the 2004 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference. She was recognized as a Top 50 CEO in Atlantic Canada in 2015. 

Dr. Charmaine Dean is Vice-President, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. In this role, she is focused on building upon foundational strengths to heighten the emphasis on collaborations, and link related external portfolios in a systematic approach to industrial partners and entrepreneurship. From 2011 to 2017, Dr. Dean served as Dean of Science at Western University. Prior to her service at Western, she played a major role in establishing the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in her capacity of Associate Dean of that Faculty. Previously, she was the founding Chair of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University.

Ontario Genomics congratulates our two new Board of Directors on their appointments and welcomes the expertise and valuable perspective they bring to Ontario Genomics.

Ontario Genomics is also pleased to announce the appointment of Jehoshua Sharma as an observer and student representative. Jehoshua Sharma is a PhD student at the University of Guelph, that established iGEM Guelph, an undergraduate-led synthetic biology research group, and has co-founded cGEM, a nationwide initiative that brings together Canadian research groups using synthetic biology to solve real-world problems. Jehoshua brings important perspectives to our organization as he is also committed to developing the next generation of life sciences leaders.

Ontario Genomics thanks retiring board member, Dr. Jack Gauldie, for his sage leadership, his invaluable service over the years and his many contributions to Ontario Genomics and the province’s genomics ecosystem. We also thank Dr. John Kelly for his indispensable service and congratulate him on his appointment as the Deputy Minister at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Learn more about our Board of Directors.