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Women in Genomics Mentorship Network

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Powered by Ontario Genomics

A 2020 survey conducted by the Women in Leadership Foundation found that 82% of women believed mentorship to be an integral part of career advancement. Further, 90% of participants took more responsibilities at work, and 90% of mentees had improved confidence.

This year, on International Women’s Day, Ontario Genomics is launching our inaugural “Women in Genomics” Mentorship Network, created for anyone who identifies as a woman*.

This pilot program seeks to connect women, across a diversity of sectors and specialties in genomics, with the guidance, knowledge, and community to help them thrive in our booming genomics ecosystem. Whether you’re just starting out or are well-positioned in your career, mentorship has the power to transform the way you see your work, yourself, and your future.

Help build our collective courage to smash glass ceilings, flip the switch on women-in-science stereotypes, and connect with other women who are striving for personal growth and professional success.

Mentorship is a proven strategy to help women advance their careers. By leveraging the knowledge and experience of our peers and seniors, we can break down the barriers to the advancement of women in genomics in Ontario and beyond.

This network has been created as part of Ontario Genomics’ commitment to advance genomics through a lens of equality, diversity and inclusion. Strategically matching mentors with mentees based on areas of expertise and professional goals, our network is designed to connect women in genomics at all career levels.

Update April 20, 2021
PLEASE NOTE: Registration for the first cohort is now closed. If you have submitted your interest to participate you will receive further information in the coming weeks (Spring 2021). If you are interested to participate in the future, please stay tuned to our Twitter @OntarioGenomics.

 * Although this scheme primarily aims to support women, including trans women, we encourage other trans people, gender queer, non-binary, Two-Spirit, agender and gender questioning people to apply.

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