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Lowpass Genomic Instability Characterization as a Comprehensive Cancer and Germline Diagnostic Assay

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Overview

Mutations in the mismatch repair or DNA polymerase genes lead to replication repair deficiency (RRD), a major cancer mechanism leading to genomic instability, microsatellite instability (MSI) and hypermutagenesis (high tumour mutation burden). RRD is a frequent driver of highly prevalent cancers such as colon, stomach, pancreatic, endometrial, and ovarian in adults, and brain and hematologic in children. There is a need to accurately identify patients with RRD as they are often resistant to chemotherapy but exquisitely sensitive to targeted and immuno-therapies; and have cancer predisposition syndromes so they, and their families, need surveillance. Current screening methods are time consuming, costly, and miss patients due to lack of sensitivity and specificity. This project will develop a sensitive and specific, cost-effective diagnostic tool for clinical RRD testing through a clinically validated lowpass genomic instability characterization diagnostic (LOGIC) assay. Benefits include savings to the health care system as well as potential revenue through the licence of this test to others both nationally and internationally.

Developing Novel Bioleaching Process for Ni Recovery from Pyrrhotite Streams

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Overview

Current methods for mining and processing ore and metal recovery are energy intensive. They lead to significant waste streams along with energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis. In addition, electrification of the transportation sector is a key part of Canada’s climate strategy. Therefore, we need energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods for mining and recovering critical minerals, such as nickel, that are key components in batteries and electric vehicles. The project will use genomics and bioleaching technologies to characterize and engineer microbial populations to treat pyrrhotite tailings, waste streams of current mining practices, for nickel extraction. Bioleaching technologies are already commercially used for mining, mainly extracting higher-priced metals (e.g., gold, copper) from sulfidic ores. The team will use genomic solutions to enable the widespread application of bioleaching technology, such as meeting the need for faster bioleaching kinetics, improved selectivity and monitoring methods. Metso-Outotec will work with producers/owners to implement the technology on pyrrhotite tailings from Sudbury basin mines. The extraction of nickel from pyrrhotite tailings in Canada has a potential value of $26 billion, can provide a source of critical minerals for production of electric vehicle batteries, and enable significant (>75%) reduction in waste generation from mining processes.

Biopesticide with New Modes of Action for Control of Highly Polyphagous Mite Agricultural Pests

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Overview

Pest management is a top priority for Canada’s horticulture greenhouse sector (with farm gate value of $3.9 billion), which provides Canadians with fresh produce year-round. The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) presents a particular threat to crop security due to its well-documented resistance to pesticides. This project will develop, register and commercialize RNAi biomiticide (dsRNA biopesticides specific for mites) against the TSSM to effectively manage its outbreaks. Project researchers—the first to demonstrate that RNAi-based silencing operates in TSSM—have already developed protocols for high-throughput screening of RNAi targets, provided proof-of-principle that sprayable RNAi works against TSSM, and identified effective TSSM RNAi targets. The project benefits from Greenlight Biosciences’ experience in commercializing and producing RNAi biopesticides and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers’ first-hand knowledge of the needs of Canada’s horticulture greenhouse growers. A potential game-changer for mite control, RNAi biomiticide will not only provide the sector with potential economic benefits of ~$600 million peryear. It will also provide growers with an alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides, thus reducing their environmental footprint.

Enabling personalized genomics in health with the CanPath Data Safe Haven

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Overview

Personalized healthcare programs for Canadians require the collection and integration of high-quality data and biosamples from a vast number of individuals to capture the complex factors that can shape an individual’s health over the course of their lifetime. This data must then be made accessible to both public and commercial health decision-makers. In Canada, the sharing and combining of data across jurisdictions, rather than collecting the data itself, is a main barrier to progress in precision medicine. The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is Canada’s largest population health cohort and a gateway platform to data worldwide. This project will build upon CanPath’s existing infrastructure to democratize access to the platform. It will develop and pilot a data safe haven (DSH), a secure environment within which researchers, clinicians and industry in Canada can access deeply characterized population health and biobank data. The DSH holds the potential to launch Canada to the forefront of genomic medicine globally. It will also support the development of Canada’s biotechnology sector and industry research as well as create the ability to harmonize with other national precision medicine programs. The ultimate result will be earlier diagnosis of disease and medical interventions for Canadians.