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Regional Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP)

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Regional Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP)

Ontario Genomics’ Regional GAPP:
Fuelling Ontario’s Next Generation of Biotech Spinouts

Ontario Genomics is launching our Regional Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) to accelerate the commercialization of academic discoveries into made-in-Ontario biotech solutions.

Ontario is home to world-class researchers and institutions producing groundbreaking discoveries, yet many of them fail to progress beyond the lab. That’s because spinout companies (formed to commercialize academic intellectual property) that bring these innovations to market are often stifled by insufficient access to capital, long commercialization timelines and limited business expertise.

Ontario Genomics’ Regional GAPP is addressing these challenges by supporting spinouts at this critical lab-to-company technology transfer stage, facilitating R&D capacity, independence from academia and positioning them for seed financing. The end results will fuel job creation, company retention, IP generation and attract foreign investment, while reinforcing Ontario’s economic resilience and global reputation in genomics innovation.

In support of the Canadian Genomics Strategy, and as part of their broader GAPP initiative, Genome Canada has provided $4 million over four years to the Ontario Genomics Regional GAPP. The Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) has committed to match the Genome Canada contribution through the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) for the 2025 round, pending Ministry’s approval of projects.

Program Objectives:

  • Accelerate/facilitate translation of products, platforms or IP from an academic lab into a company in support of commercialization, company benefits, Ontario’s economy and made-in-Ontario IP.
  • Position early-stage Ontario companies to raise follow-on funding at project end.
  • Develop business acumen in post-graduate trainees to build a pool of highly qualified personnel (HQP) to lead the next wave of biotech companies in Ontario.
  • Position Ontario as a hub for the creation, growth and scaling of biotech innovation.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The genomics-based/enabled project supports the invention, development or commercialization of a biotech innovation with a clearly articulated market opportunity.
  • The project is driven by a spinout company in partnership with an Ontario-based researcher and will facilitate translation of IP from academia into the commercialization pathway.
  • The spinout company is incorporated, Canadian-owned, and based in Ontario.
  • The spinout company stage is pre-seed or earlier.
  • The spinout company has at least two employees (including executives). If the lead project researcher is also the CEO, the company’s governance board must have at least one additional member.
  • The project has the potential to generate social and economic benefits for the company and Ontario.

If you meet the above criteria, please fill out this intake form.

INTAKE FORM

Funding and Term:

  • The project term is 1-2 years (no extensions).
  • Four projects will be funded per year.
  • Project budget will be a minimum of $667,734:
    • $222,578 from Genome Canada
    • $222,578 from MCURES/ORF (conditions apply – see Program Guide for details)
    • ≥$222,578 from the private sector (cash or in-kind)

Canadian Biotechnology Innovation and Commercialization

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Canadian Biotechnology Innovation and Commercialization (CBIC)

Canadian Biotechnology Innovation and Commercialization (CBIC)

Biotechnology leverages biological processes, organisms, or systems to develop products and technologies for a wide range of sectors, including medicine, agriculture, and environmental science, with the potential to address global challenges and enhance quality of life. The field has been significantly revolutionized by genomics, which provides a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of life. This has enabled precise manipulation and understanding of biological systems at a molecular level, driving innovation across multiple sectors.

Genome Canada has announced a strategic investment in commercialization and adoption of genomics and genomics-driven biotechnology solutions, through the Canadian Biotechnology Innovation and Commercialization (CBIC) initiative. CBIC funds public-private research and development projects that amplify the value of public investment in innovation and accelerate the commercialization of Canadian genomics inventions and innovations by addressing real-world needs and opportunities identified by industry.

This first investment in support of the Canadian Genomics Strategy aims to accelerate commercialization and adoption to address urgent health and industry challenges in Canada.

Prostate Cancer Predict

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Overview

Reducing the need for prostate biopsies by predicting the risks of high grade prostate cancer (HGPrCa) using biomarkers from semen

Preventing 6,000 unnecessary biopsies: A Canadian innovation in prostate cancer diagnosis

 New prostate cancer testing targets more precise, less invasive diagnosis of the most diagnosed cancer among men in Canada.

Every year, around 100,000 men in Canada undergo prostate biopsies based on elevated PSA levels or abnormal prostate exams. They face an uncomfortable procedure that comes with risks of its own and yet only 20 per cent of those biopsies reveal high-grade prostate cancer, the kind that is clinically significant and requires treatment.

Healthcare providers need a reliable, non-invasive test to identify who needs a biopsy and who does not. Apart from MRI, there have not been non-invasive tests that can be used to reduce biopsy rates.

A genomics-driven solution

This is where FlowLabs, a Canadian diagnostic company, identifies a significant opportunity, working in collaboration with the Murray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at the Mount Sinai Hospital, the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomedical Research at the University of Toronto, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. FlowLabs is preparing to validate a new test that uses semen samples to identify high-grade prostate cancer. The test measures biomarkers—two amino acid metabolites and two microRNAs – that can accurately differentiate serious prostate cancer cases from low-grade prostate cancer or the absence of disease.

First, FlowLabs will confirm the validity of the test using samples from 250 men who have already had biopsies. Then, the lab will develop an algorithm that combines semen biomarker levels and other clinical data, such as PSA levels and MRI results, to predict the risk of high-grade prostate cancer more accurately. A large-scale clinical trial of 700 men undergoing biopsies at seven clinical centers across Canada will test the algorithm’s usefulness and performance in the real world.

FlowLabs is ideally equipped for this project. Based in Ontario, it has Canada-wide logistics in place for receiving samples at its central licensed laboratory. If successful, the test could allow FlowLabs to expand its workforce by the creation of as many as 50 new highly skilled positions as it taps into a North American market that is worth up to $300 million for such a test. In the next three–five years, this semen-based test could prevent up to 6,000 men from unnecessary biopsies, save the health system $8M annually, and position Canada as a global leader in non-invasive cancer diagnostics.

This test is expected to be highly attractive to patients, two-thirds of those under the age of 65 who prefer providing a semen sample to a blood sample. It has superior accuracy to other commercial tests.

FlowLabs will engage key opinion leaders and healthcare providers to support the test’s adoption, focusing on establishing reimbursement agreements with provincial healthcare systems and private insurers. The test will be initially launched across Canada, with subsequent expansion internationally.

Genome Canada’s investment in this project, and initial seed funding from the Koffler Foundation, will help unlock its potential to revolutionize prostate cancer diagnosis in Canada and globally.

Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) – 2025

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Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP)

As part of the Canadian Genomics Strategy (CGS), the Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) supports Canadian for-profit enterprises looking to commercialize their idea or research by:

  • Increasing Canadian private-sector investment in the commercialization of innovation derived from public R&D funding in genomics and biotechnology.
  • Stimulating technological innovation and implementation through co-operative R&D between research and receptors.
  • Enabling research investments that de-risk opportunities and secure follow-on funding from finance and industry.
  • Fostering and encouraging participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by individuals from equity-deserving communities.

Each GAPP project must be led by an industry receptor that is a Canadian for-profit enterprise and carried out in partnership with a researcher. Deadline to apply is Thursday, July 24.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • The program is designed to support Canadian for-profit enterprises (FPEs) – a Receptor – that have an economic interest in developing an idea or research into a commercial application. A subsidiary of a foreign public corporation that is incorporated in Canada with control exercised in Canada is also an eligible receptor.
  • Each project must be a partnership between a receptor and researcher, with optional support from one or more co-investigators and/or collaborators.
  • If the researcher has a position with the receptor, the receptor must have clear decision-making processes that are independent of the researcher.

Funding and Term:

  • Applicants can request up to one-third of the project budget from Genome Canada.
  • Genome Canada’s total contribution to an approved project must be at least $300,000. Its maximum contribution is $2 million.
  • Private sector contributions towards the project must match or exceed the Genome Canada contribution.
  • Projects must be completed within two years of the start date. No extensions will be granted.

Key Letter of Intent (LOI) Dates:

  • All stages of application are administered through Ontario Genomics (OG)
  • Draft LOIs to OG: Rolling, until July 16
  • Final LOIs to OG: July 24

Learn more of previous rounds of funded Ontario GAPP Projects.

One Health Approach to Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Emerging Climate-Related Health Threats using eDNA and eRNA Tools

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Overview

Environmental DNA (eDNA)/RNA (eRNA) is the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment, including in water, soil and air.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infections—where bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant to the medications designed to kill them—pose significant health and economic challenges for Canada and the world.
This project is tackling AMR by developing an innovative and cost-effective monitoring system using wastewater-based surveillance and livestock samples, which can be analyzed to detect genes associated with AMR.

By utilizing environmental eDNA to detect AMR genes in the samples, this project will provide a broader understanding of resistance patterns within communities. The goal is to establish correlations between environmental and clinical AMR data, creating a comprehensive approach to monitoring and managing AMR in Canada.

This project will develop a portable “Lab-in-a-Box” system to enable rapid, onsite detection of eDNA (AMR genes) in wastewater. This tool will be particularly valuable for remote and underserved regions, as it preserves sample integrity and provides faster results than traditional methods, which often require shipping samples to centralized labs. The project will also develop an Ethical and Inclusive Governance Framework to ensure that eDNA data collection and analysis in Indigenous communities respects their rights and is conducted in a culturally sensitive manner.

The project will:

  • Optimize and validating new eDNA-based tools to enhance AMR surveillance at local and national levels. Public health officials, including Ontario Public Health Units (PHUs) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), will have access to near real-time data on AMR trends. This will enable them to detect AMR hotspots, implement targeted interventions and adjust antimicrobial use policies, and in keeping with the Governance Framework to ensure Indigenous rights are respected.
  • By providing evidence-based data, help expand the use of eDNA technologies as surveillance tools, optimize antibiotic use, reduce treatment failures and curb the spread of AMR, improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs across Canada.
  • Provide opportunities for collaboration to foster a continuous exchange of knowledge between clinical and environmental surveillance systems. This comprehensive approach will significantly improve Canada’s ability to respond to AMR and guide public health efforts to combat this growing global health crisis.

One Health Surveillance of Emergent and Climate Change Health Threats in Southern and Northern, Remote and Isolated First Nations

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Overview

Environmental DNA (eDNA)/RNA (eRNA) is the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment, including in water, soil and air.

Rising temperatures are increasing the health risks posed by disease vectors, such as ticks and mosquitos. For Indigenous communities, these risks are compounded by significant health disparities, geographical isolation and mistrust of health-care systems rooted in colonial practices. Traditional medical testing also often proves intrusive, costly and impractical for remote First Nations.

This project will help support health resilience and equity for two First Nations communities in Ontario through development and implementation of new eDNA/eRNA tools for wastewater and environmental monitoring.

These innovative tools will enable systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of community wastewater to monitor zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, which are increasingly prevalent due to climate change. To ensure this project serves community needs and cultures, it is adopting a co-development model with Indigenous partners, prioritizing community rights, interests and expectations.

This project will:

  • Integrate environmental, wildlife and public health data into a “One Health” approach, ensuring human, animal and environmental health are monitored cohesively.
  • Work to ensure the application of wastewater and environmental monitoring tools will align with Indigenous values, avoiding data colonialism. To achieve this, the project will adopt a co-development model with Indigenous partners, prioritizing community rights, interests, and expectations.
  • In collaboration with community stakeholders and partners—including Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Feather Board Command Centre, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness —the project will develop culturally appropriate frameworks based on the First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP). These frameworks will guide the ethical and sustainable use of eDNA and eRNA tools, ensuring the generated data directly benefits the communities while respecting Indigenous sovereignty.
  • Drive development of sensitive, accurate and rapid eDNA and eRNA analytical methods to enhance the detection of avian-borne, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, enabling timely public health responses.
  • By supporting Indigenous data sovereignty and OCAP principles, empower communities to independently manage their health data, strengthening local capacity for disease surveillance and response while fostering Indigenous leadership in health resilience.

eDNA Surveillance Initiative

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eDNA Surveillance Initiative

eDNA Surveillance can tell us nature’s secrets

As humans, we don’t live in a bubble. We’re connected to all living things around us, so it only makes sense to better understand the impact humans, animals and the environment have on each other. That’s where Environmental DNA (eDNA) comes in!

This advanced surveillance technique is emerging as a non-invasive method to better understand how our changing climate is impacting all living things, especially human health. Ontario Genomics is funding two new projects through Genome Canada’s eDNA Surveillance Initiative that gives regional support to better develop more sensitive and accurate detection methods.

One project will help two First Nations communities develop and implement new eDNA/eRNA tools for wastewater and ecological monitoring, while the other will track and correlate environmental and clinical antimicrobial resistance. An ethical and inclusive governance policy framework will be co-created with First Nations communities to ensure privacy protection, confidentiality and data integrity while respecting Indigenous sovereignty.

Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity program

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Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity Program

The road to reconciliation is a long path that hasn’t traditionally included the field of science. But a new funding opportunity is looking to create  space for Indigenous people and perspectives in genomics.

Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity program is designed to strengthen First Nations (status and non-status), Métis and Inuit technical, social scientific and community capacities1 to engage with and conduct genomics research in ways that uphold and advance Indigenous rights to self-determination.

The program will provide Indigenous-led training opportunities for Indigenous students and community practitioners, equipping them with genomic skills and capabilities that integrate Indigenous knowledge systems, values and perspectives with modern science, technology and social scientific critique. It will foster the exploration of the intersections between Indigenous ways of knowing and practices, and disciplines such as genomics, environmental science and other scientific and technological fields.

Primary objectives of this funding program:

  • Building Indigenous capacity in genomics
  • Promoting career development
  • Integrating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives
  • Advancing Indigenous self-determination
  • Fostering interdisciplinary exploration

Key requirements of the projects supported through this program:

  • Designed for and by Indigenous Peoples: Projects guided by Indigenous leadership, ensuring they reflect the needs, priorities and aspirations of Indigenous communities while fostering empowerment and self-determination
  • Indigenous-led research and collaboration: Prioritizing research and partnerships led by Indigenous scientists, integrating traditional knowledge systems with cutting-edge scientific practices to address community-driven challenges
  • Indigenous technoscience curriculum: A dynamic curriculum developed and taught by Indigenous educators, merging cultural teachings with technical, social scientific and ethical considerations in genomics and related fields
  • Place-based learning: Training tailored to the unique cultural, environmental and social contexts of communities, emphasizing the connection between knowledge, land and place in the learning process
  • Community of practice framework: Participants supported within a collaborative network of peers, mentors and experts, creating an environment for shared learning, knowledge exchange and sustained professional growth
  • Practical skills development in genomics: Hands-on training equipping participants with advanced technical and analytical skills in genomics, ensuring they are prepared to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges and opportunities
  • Data sovereignty and innovation: Emphasizing ethical data management and analysis, focusing on Indigenous data sovereignty while fostering innovation in genomics to benefit Indigenous communities

Eligibility criteria

  • The project must be Indigenous-led and actively engaged with Indigenous communities.
  • Project leaders and team members must be affiliated with an eligible institution.

Available funding and term

  • A maximum of $400,000 is available from Genome Canada.
  • Funding will be allocated to up to TWO (2) projects.
  • Funded projects will have a maximum term of THREE (3) years.
  • Co-funding is not required but is encouraged.

Application submissions

The Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity program will include a one stage application process. Applicants are required to apply through Genome Canada’s Proposal Central Portal through a regional Genome Centre.

1 – Community capacities refers to the applied skills, knowledge systems and learning approaches that Indigenous communities identify as essential for engaging with and advancing genomics research and knowledge creation. These capacities may be rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices, or integrated with scientific methods and methodologies.

CPHI Pillar 1: Generating Population-Level Genomic Data

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This investment will generate a coordinated, large-scale, diverse genomic data asset that reflects Canada’s population.

Through the Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI), genomic data from 100,000+ people across Canada will be gathered, shared and made accessible to help transform our health-care approach into a modern, precision health system that can have enormous impacts for all Canadians.

The initiative comprises four integrated, connected pillars of activity.

Pillar 1 – Generating population-level genomic data, will focus on the creation of national data assets that are accessible and reflect the diversity of Canada’s population. This data will be used to modernize the country’s healthcare system, making it more agile, preventative-focused and effective for Canadians.

Within Pillar 1, Ontario Genomics is the lead Centre for 4 awarded projects and the co-lead Centre for 2 awarded projects.

  1. Precision Health Network for Neurodevelopment, Mental Health and Brain Injury
  2. Precision Child Health – Comprehensive Sequencing for Childhood Life-long Disorders
  3. INFANT: Identifying At-risk Newborns from the Analysis of NGS Testing
  4. Expanding the Use of Genomics to Unravel Rare Diseases: Care4Rare EXPAND
  5. Genomic Evidence for Precision Medicine for Selected Chronic Diseases among Black Peoples in Canada
  6. Longitudinal, Deep-Phenotyped Pediatric Databank of Medical and Drug Therapy Outcomes
Learn more about Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI)

Precision Health Network for Neurodevelopment, Mental Health and Brain Injury

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Overview

This sequencing project will help us better understand the genetic factors impacting children and youth with brain development conditions, such as neurodevelopmental conditions and acquired brain injury.

Conditions impacting brain development in children and youth, such as neurodevelopmental conditions (NDDs) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are prevalent, impairing and costly. NDDs and related mental conditions impact at least one in five individuals, persist across the lifespan and cost up to two million dollars in lifetime cost per individual in Canada. ABI further impacts brain development, affecting 4.4 per cent of children 1-17 years, (with up to a third of such injuries leading to persistent post-concussive symptoms. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the biology of these conditions, our ability to change long term outcomes remains limited. Accumulating data from sequencing studies highlights significant biological heterogeneity in NDDs, and emerging studies in ABI also suggest significant genomic heterogeneity. There is an urgent need to understand such heterogeneity, provide tailored anticipatory guidance, discover biomarkers that will allow patient stratification and ultimately develop precision health interventions. In this effort, we have brought together nine research cohorts across NDDs, mental health and ABI, collecting rich phenotyping data, and assembled a highly accomplished multidisciplinary team of genomic scientists, clinicians, engineers and other stakeholders, to whole genome sequence 10,000 samples, using both short and long read sequencing, link genomic data to environmental exposures and phenotypes, and use advanced computational approaches to facilitate precision health solutions. 

Genome Canada’s Project Page

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