Ontario Genomics Welcomes New Board Members

November 10, 2023 by ON Genomics Leave a Comment

Ontario Genomics is delighted to announce the appointments of Anne Woods and Derek Newton to our Board of Directors. To further expand the board’s perspective, we created a voting student representative role and are thrilled that Jehoshua Sharma, PhD Candidate at the University of Guelph, has transitioned from observer to a full voting member. These three individuals bring a wealth of insight, experience, and expertise in areas crucial to our organization and will contribute to achieving the strategic vision of Ontario Genomics.

Ontario Genomics is also excited to announce Ann Marie Vaughan will take on the role of Chair of the Board, and Colin Kelleher the role of vice-chair. We thank Deb Stark for her service in the role of Chair over the last four years. Her contributions were vital in advancing Ontario Genomics’ board governance and leading the board’s oversight and input in the development of Ontario Genomics’ 5-year strategic vision and plan. We appreciate her ongoing commitment to the board in the role of Past Chair.

Ontario Genomics is also thankful to retiring board members for their years of deep commitment to our board. Stephen Cummings served on our board for nine years and played an invaluable role in chairing Ontario Genomics’ Audit Committee and ensuring good governance of Ontario Genomics’ finances. Charmaine Dean served on our board for three years and provided important insights into the perspectives of Ontario’s researchers and entrepreneurs. Alison Sunstrum’s astute private sector outlook sharpened our vision for company support over the past year. Thank you for your contributions to OG!

To learn more about the new members and additional changes to our Board please visit our Governance page.

Anne Woods is the Managing Director of Life Sciences & Healthcare at RBCx where she leads the banks efforts in the sector across Canada. Born and raised in Toronto, Anne brings over 25 years of experience in life sciences and capital markets, with 15 years of experience within pharma and biotech. Prior to RBCx, Anne launched and led the Life Sciences and Healthcare practice in Canada for Silicon Valley Bank. Read more about Anne Woods

Derek Newton is the Assistant Vice-President, Innovation, Partnerships, and Entrepreneurship at The University of Toronto (U of T). He supports the university’s bold innovation agenda towards fostering the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs, developing successful corporate research partnerships, and managing the IP portfolio of the university. Read more about Derek Newton

Jehoshua Sharma is a PhD student from Trinidad and Tobago, currently at the University of Guelph in Ontario. He is studying the fungal pathogen Candida albicans in the lab of Dr. Rebecca Shapiro. He is also developing novel CRISPR-Cas variants to expand the current genetic manipulation toolbox for fungal pathogens to study the functional genomics of drug resistant isolates. For his work in the Shapiro lab he has won the ‘CBS, Best Paper’ award for his CRISPRi system, the International Doctoral Scholarship and multiple grants. Read more about Jehoshua Sharma

Ontario Biotech Start-ups Get Government Funding Boost

November 7, 2023 by ON Genomics

From Ottawa to Guelph, life saving and tasty innovation is happening

Four new start-ups have been welcomed into BioCreate, Ontario Genomics’ $11.6-million accelerator program providing financial and business support to biotechnology companies creating game-changing solutions in the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech industries.

BioCreate is funded by Ontario Genomics and a Government of Canada investment of over $5.6 million, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The program connects highly vetted companies with $150,000 in non-repayable funding, 18 months of business mentorship and access to critical infrastructure. They’ll also get the opportunity to pitch to investors for further funding. Here are this round’s recipients:

Escarpment Labs is a Guelph-based company that supplies cutting-edge yeast strains to craft brewers to enhance the flavour of their brews and ensure easier fermentation during the beer making process.
QurCan Therapeutics is a Toronto medical sciences company that has developed technology to boost the effectiveness of cancer-fighting medicines to improve the quality of life for patients.
Spectra Plasmonics is based in Kingston, where it is perfecting a helpful tool for the food and beverage industry. The company’s bacteria sensing tests give manufacturers quick and accurate results on the safety of their food.
Virica Biotech is an Ottawa-based medical sciences company focused on a ground-breaking approach to make cell and gene therapies cheaper and easier to produce so more patients can get access to potentially life-saving treatments.

These four companies join the eight health, food and agriculture, and cleantech start-ups that were accepted into the BioCreate program last spring.

Ontario Genomics President and CEO, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, says, “BioCreate’s financial investment comes at a critical time for these companies to scale up and create new jobs, while the mentorship gives them the business support they need to succeed and get their technologies and tools into real-world use.”

“It’s great to hear that these four incredible companies have joined the BioCreate program,” says the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “It’s our government’s priority to support emerging genomics companies with access to the tools and resources they need grow and make a positive impact on the lives of Canadians.”

About Ontario Genomics
Ontario Genomics is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and other partners. Since 2000, we’ve been involved with cutting-edge science to find homegrown solutions to challenges the world faces like climate change, food insecurity and healthcare. Find out more at OntarioGenomics.ca.

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media Contacts
Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Attention start-ups! BioCreate Cohort 3 is now open!

October 23, 2023 by ON Genomics Leave a Comment

Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate program is now open to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in southern Ontario looking to commercialize genomics and engineering biology enabled products and/or technologies in the health, food and agriculture, and cleantech sectors at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4+.

What does BioCreate do? We provide funding, access to mentorship and business support to help companies bring new products and technologies to market.

Program Highlights:

Direct, non-repayable funding of $150,000.
Access to 18 months of intensive business mentorship and critical infrastructure provided by Ontario Genomics’ strategic sectoral and regional partnerships.
An investor showcase for each cohort, giving companies the opportunity to pitch to investors and potential partners.

Application Steps and Dates

Interested? Review the Program Guide for more information on BioCreate, including eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria, then fill out the BioCreate intake form and a representative from our team will reach out to discuss your project idea. Eligible applicants will be invited to submit an application.

If you have questions, please contact BioCreate@ontariogenomics.ca.

The deadline to submit an intake form for Cohort 3 is Thursday, November 30, 2023. Additional details and the application process can be found on the BioCreate page.

Complete the intake form now to find out more about your company’s eligibility!

The BioCreate program is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Ontario Genomics. The current budget is greater than $7 million over five years.

Ontario Genomics Projects Part of a $30 Million Research and Innovation Investment

September 6, 2023 by ON Genomics Leave a Comment

McMaster and Guelph universities are tackling food insecurity and climate change

Projects at McMaster University and the University of Guelph are part of a $30 million investment in genomics-based innovation through the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems (CSAFS) program. A total of nine Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams across Canada are getting the funding through a partnership with Genome Canada, Ontario Genomics and other organizations.

With the world’s population at 8.1 billion people and counting, food insecurity is a major concern, especially when you factor in climate change. The biggest Canadian cellular agriculture project ever is being led by McMaster University with help from the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph and Collège La Cité, where researchers are developing efficient and economical ways to produce cultivated meat on a large scale.

One of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture comes from methane-filled cow burps. Led by the University of Guelph, researchers are creating a diagnostic toolkit to help farmers breed dairy cows with better digestion, which will make them significantly less gassy.

These two projects are getting nearly $6 million from the federal government through Genome Canada. Another $4.4 million is being given to joint Ontario Genomics projects led by Genome Prairie and Genome BC. Researchers at the University of Manitoba are developing soil microbe inoculants to replace chemical fertilizers, while research is underway at the University of the Fraser Valley on how to create new agricultural technologies in a responsible way that will benefit everyone.

Ontario Genomics President and CEO Dr. Bettina Hamelin, says, “Climate change is threatening our food supply and these projects are just the tip of the iceberg in the critical innovation happening in Ontario to produce sustainable food for Canadians. With more support like this, we can bring more jobs to the province and create meaningful solutions to the world’s most serious problems.”

Dr. Rob Annan, President and CEO of Genome Canada, says, “By harnessing the power of genomics, and the strengths of diverse researchers, institutions, companies and communities, the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative will support vital transformation across one of the most important sectors for Canada’s economy, our health and wellbeing.”

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Ontario Genomics is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and Genome Canada. Since 2000, Ontario Genomics has been nurturing innovation across the province by supporting genomic technologies in the health, agriculture and food, and environment sectors. Find out more at ontariogenomics.ca.

For Media Inquiries:
Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca

Ontario Genomics-CANSSI Ontario Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genome Data Science

July 12, 2023 by ON Genomics Leave a Comment

We are pleased to announce a new joint funding opportunity from Ontario Genomics and CANSSI Ontario, the Ontario regional centre of the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute, establishing another joint Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genome Data Science.

This Fellowship, now in its third year, will support the work of an early-career investigator pursuing research in the areas of genomics and data science with an emphasis on genomic medicine, including, but not limited to, methodology, application, and translation of genomic prediction tools such as polygenic risk scores; human-computer interactions; or novel genomic computational approaches to therapeutic identification.

Proposed projects should be innovative, generalizable across applications, and not restricted to developing a predictive tool for a single application.

The Fellowship offers two-year salary support for up to $50,000 annually for postdoctoral fellows undertaking full-time research at a CANSSI Ontario partner university or their affiliated research institutes. Candidates are responsible for selecting, contacting, and securing the commitment of two faculty members to jointly supervise them in their project, one being a statistical geneticist, genetic epidemiologist, or environmental epidemiologist.

Funding Availability: Up to two years.
Maximum Fellowship Value: $50,000 annually for up to $100,000 over two years.
Call for Applications Opens: July 12, 2023.

Contact

Ontario Genomics
Michael Dorrington, Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Telephone: 416.673.6562
Email: mdorrington@OntarioGenomics.ca

Erum Razvi, Advisor, Sector Innovation & Programs
Email: erazvi@OntarioGenomics.ca

CANSSI Ontario
Esther Berzunza, Program Manager
Telephone: 416-689-7271
Email: esther.berzunza@utoronto.ca

About

Ontario Genomics is a not-for-profit organization leading the application of genomics-based solutions to drive economic growth, improved quality of life and global leadership for Ontario. Ontario Genomics plays a vital role in advancing projects and programs by supporting the development of their proposals, helping them access diverse funding sources, and finding the right industry partners to take this research out of the lab to apply it to the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its inception in 2000, Ontario Genomics has raised more than $1.27 billion for genomics applied research in Ontario and directly supported more than 9,100 trainees and jobs. We have 110+ active projects, 500+ impactful partnerships and have secured $1.34 billion in follow-on investments.

CANSSI Ontario is the Ontario regional centre of CANSSI–a national institute offering the leadership and infrastructure necessary to increase and further develop statistical sciences research in Canada and promote the discipline. CANSSI Ontario seeks to support data-intensive, interdisciplinary research and strengthen the network of statistical and data scientists in Ontario and across Canada. www.canssiontario.utoronto.ca.

$11-Million Program Supporting Ontario’s BioTech Start-ups

June 12, 2023 by ontarioadmin

The new BioCreate program is getting Ontario-made innovations ready for real-world use

Eight Ontario start-ups in the health, food and agriculture and clean-tech sectors are the first round of recipients for Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate program, an $11.6-million initiative providing financial and business support to help move the province’s biotechnology scene forward.

BioCreate is funded by Ontario Genomics and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) with the goal of connecting each highly-vetted company with $150,000 in non-repayable funding, 18 months of business mentorship and access to critical infrastructure. They’ll also get the opportunity to pitch to investors for further funding. The first round of recipients are:

AIMA Laboratories (Hamilton) is speeding up the diagnosis of endometriosis by creating a home test.
Index Biosystems (Burlington) is working on BioTag technology to make food products safer and cut down on food recalls by verifying sustainability, product quality and source-of-origin.
Kraken Sense (Oakville) is developing new technologies to speed up detection of new and existing variants of different viruses and bacteria to maintain public health and safety.
Ceragen (Kitchener) is helping farmers increase crop yields through microbiome engineering.
BioFect Innovations (Toronto) designed a microorganism to mass produce brazzein, a sugar substitute.
Genecis (Toronto) has engineered a bacteria that breaks down food waste to make cheaper bioplastics.
Liven Proteins (Toronto) is producing animal-free protein ingredients for the food industry.
Performance Plants (Kingston) is using genetic engineering to produce climate change-resistant crops.

Ontario Genomics President and CEO Dr. Bettina Hamelin, says, “Genomics gives us scientifically proven solutions to some of humanity’s biggest challenges. BioCreate is supporting cutting-edge companies to grow these game-changing technologies and to create jobs for the very near future.”

“Canada’s entrepreneurs are leaders in their field. Their innovative and creative solutions to our complex problems will drive our economy forward and make southern Ontario a destination for growing industries. The companies that were selected to participate in the BioCreate program are some of these incredible leaders.” says the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “By fostering the development and growth of these promising start-ups, our Government is helping them reach their potential and change the world.”

Ontario Genomics (OG) is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and Genome Canada. Since 2000, OG has been nurturing innovation across the province by supporting genomic technologies in the health, agriculture and environment sectors. Find out more at ontariogenomics.ca.

For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media Contacts

Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

New Ontario Upcycling Project is Turning Food Waste into Plastic

May 23, 2023 by ontarioadmin

Ontario Genomics’ wasteCANcreate program is putting garbage eating microbes to good use

The world is awash in garbage from many different industries – food waste alone is responsible for 50% of agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions. Even with current recycling programs, our trash problem is threatening the climate, wildlife habitats and critical natural resources like fresh water.

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, help is on the way! Ontario Genomics’ new wasteCANcreate program is bringing together Canadian researchers and industry partners from the energy, agriculture & food, plastic films and performance textiles sectors to bring real-world solutions to Ontario, and the rest of the world.

How do you turn potato peels into plastic sheets and nylon fibers? Precision fermentation uses naturally occurring or engineered microbes to convert food waste into usable products like biodegradable plastics. This new method of upcycling also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, replaces the need for petroleum-based plastics and is an economic boost to the province through job creation.

Ontario Genomics President and CEO, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, says, “This is a win-win situation. Taking food waste and turning it into things like biodegradable plastic cuts down on garbage going into landfills both now and for generations to come.”

wasteCANcreate got a jump-start with $2.3 million in funding through the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Clean Technology program, Ontario Genomics and other industry partners.

Ontario Genomics is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and Genome Canada. Since 2000, OG has been nurturing innovation across the province by supporting genomic technologies in the health, agriculture and food, and environment sectors. Find out more at ontariogenomics.ca.

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Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca

Funding Opportunity: Genomic Monitoring of Pathogens in Water – C3 Hub Webinar Registration

April 27, 2023 by ontarioadmin

Community Coordination and Collaboration Hub (C3 Hub) Funding Opportunity

Ontario Genomics and Genome Canada invite you to an introductory information session about a new funding opportunity, the Community Coordination and Collaboration Hub (C3 Hub), within our recently launched targeted genomic initiative known as Genomic Monitoring of Pathogens in Water (GeMPaW).

The Community Coordination and Collaboration Hub (C3 Hub) will be a single Pan-Canadian team responsible for connecting regional surveillance projects and ensuring that data from monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and emerging pathogens (EPs) are used to inform public policy decisions. We encourage you to attend our info session to learn more about the GeMPaW strategic initiative, and more specifically, the C3 Hub.

Date: June 1, 2023
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom) – Link will follow registration

Register today! Participants interested in attending the info session must first register using the C3 Hub Individual Participation Registration form to receive the Zoom link via email. The deadline for individual registration is May 30, 2023. Registration is now open—please don’t delay.

If you have any questions about this info session or the GeMPaW initiative, please contact Laura Riley, Director, Sector Innovation & Programs, Ontario Genomics at lriley@ontariogenomics.ca.

Ontario Genomics investments drive cutting-edge R&D in health, environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience

April 18, 2023 by ontarioadmin

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced federal support through Genome Canada for three late-stage Ontario Genomics research and development projects tackling major challenges in health, environment and agriculture through genomics.

The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the provincial government, industry and healthcare organizations, as well as other partners, is investing a total of over $16.3 million into Ontario projects out of the $56.7 million funding announced for projects across Canada.

Genomics research is driving innovations and delivering solutions to global challenges like climate change, public health and food security. Ontario\’s robust research ecosystem has developed world-class strength in genomics with major investments over more than 23 years to solidify our position as a world leader in the field.

“Genomics is a key technology that is instrumental in responding to national and global challenges. Projects like the ones announced under the Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program are central to make sure the Canadian research system grow and remain at the forefront globally, leading to more cutting-edge genomics science that delivers real impacts for the health and economic growth of Canadians.”

– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

The Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) projects announced today will harness cutting-edge genomics science to deliver real-world impacts for healthier, more sustainable and prosperous communities across Ontario. The GAPP program leverages world-leading expertise to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into broad economic and societal benefits for Ontario, such as job creation and revenue generation.

“Enabling impact-focused research partnerships between academia, industry, public sector institutions and other partners is a powerful vehicle for generating long-term growth, low-carbon productivity and a healthier future for Canadians. Genome Canada is proud to mark the 10th anniversary of the Genomics Application Partnership Program (GAPP) and invest in our 100th GAPP with the vital support of the Government of Canada.”

– Dr. Rob Annan,
President and CEO, Genome Canada

Ontario Genomics plays a vital role in advancing these projects by supporting the development of their proposals, helping them access diverse funding sources, and finding the right industry partners to take this research out of the lab to apply it to the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its inception in 2000, Ontario Genomics has raised more than $1.27 billion for genomics applied research in Ontario and directly supported more than 9,100 trainees and jobs. We have 110+ active projects, 500+ impactful partnerships and have secured $1.34 billion in follow-on investments.

“Partnerships between the researchers and industry are the cornerstone of Ontario’s thriving innovation community. By supporting the development and uptake of new technologies that provide game-changing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, Ontario Genomics is helping to nurture healthy people, a healthy economy, and a healthy planet for generations to come.”

– Dr. Bettina Hamelin,
President and CEO, Ontario Genomics.

This investment will support researchers at the Western University, University of Toronto, and Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. In collaboration with industry partners, including Greenlight Biosciences, Inc., Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, Metso-Outotec, and Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, these genomics-based projects will have real, positive impacts on our healthcare system, as well as the environment.

Marking a decade of impact-focused research investment
The projects announced today are funded through GAPP. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, and its 100th funded project, GAPP leverages world-leading expertise and diversified partnerships to accelerate translation of scientific knowledge into broad economic and societal benefits for Ontario and Canada.

Biopesticide with new modes of action for control of highly polyphagous mite agricultural pests
Receptors: Greenlight Biosciences, Inc. and Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
This project will develop, register and commercialize RNAi biomiticide (biopesticides specific for mites) against the two-spotted spider mite to effectively manage its outbreaks. This novel biopesticide will not only provide the sector with potential economic benefits of ~$600 million per year, but it will also provide growers with an alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides, thus reducing their environmental footprint.
Developing novel bioleaching process for Ni recovery from pyrrhotite streams
Receptor: Metso-Outotec
This 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. 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.
Enabling personalized genomics in health with the CanPath data safe haven
Receptor: Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health
This project will build upon CanPath’s existing infrastructure to democratize access to the platform, developing a secure environment within which researchers, clinicians and industry in Canada can access deeply characterized population health and biobank data. It will support the development of Canada’s biotechnology sector and industry research as well as creating the ability to harmonize with other national precision medicine programs. The ultimate result will be earlier diagnosis of disease and medical interventions for Canadians.

“Antenna-in-a-cell”: Forest Insect Pest Research and Management

April 17, 2023 by ON Genomics Leave a Comment

Insects damage important crops and forests, and some insect species are responsible for the transmission of disease. If we better understand which compounds mediate the attraction of these insects, we could better control the damage. SPARK funding for this project will help Drs. Daniel Doucet and Jeremy Allison (Great Lakes Forestry Centre) develop the antenna-in-a-cell platform that aims to find physiologically active odorants and understand how they interact with the insects’ odorant receptors (OR). This research holds promise for the development of odorant molecules as operational insect lures.
The project focused the validation of the approach on two invasive insects of critical concern in forestry: the Emerald Ash Borer and the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle. The experiments have resulted in the identification of key ORs in both species which will, down the line, aid in the development of optimal odor blends to use against these two insect species.

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