for Journalists
Genome Canada
Contact1: Marc Desmarais, Vice-President, Government Relations and Communications
Phone (Bus): (613) 751-4460, ext. 115
E-mail: mdesmarais@genomecanada.caContact2: Claudine Renauld, VP of Communications and Public Affairs
Phone (Bus): (613) 751-4460, ext. 129 (Fax): (613) 751-4474
E-mail: crenauld@genomecanada.caAddress: 2100-150 Metcalfe St., Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1
Web Site: www.genomecanada.ca
Keys: Agriculture; Alzheimer; Alzheimer's; Anthrax; Arthritis; Biotech; Biotechnology; Bioterrorism; Brain Research; Cancer; Chromosome; Cloning; Cod Farming Research; Diabetes; DNA; DNA Sequencing Facility; Down's Syndrome; Ensure Leadership in Ethical, Environmental, Legal and Social Issues Related to Genomics; Environment; International HapMap Project; Fisheries; Forestry; Genetics; Genomics; Genomics Research; Genomics Research in Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment, Forestries and Health; Genomics Sequencing; Genotyping; Health; Human Genome Sequence; Innovation; International Genomics Research Programs; Pharmaceuticals; Proteomics; Proteomics and Bioinformatics; Proteomics Research; Science & Technology Platform.
Expertise: Established in 2000; 16 employees + 6 Genome Centres across Canada. Genome Canada is the primary funding and information resource relating to genomics and proteomics in Canada. Dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy in genomics and proteomics research for the benefit of all Canadians, it has so far received $600 million from the Government of Canada. Genome Canada has established six Genome Centres across the country (Alberta, Atlantic, Québec, Ontario, Prairies and British Columbia) and has as a main objective to ensure that Canada becomes a world leader in genomics and proteomics research. Together with its six Genome Centres and with other partners, Genome Canada invests and manages over 100 large-scale research projects in key selected areas such as agriculture, bioinformatics, environment, fisheries, forestry and health and new technology development. Genome Canada also supports research projects aimed at studying and analyzing the ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social issues related to genomics research (GE3LS).
Genome Canada has invested more than $560 million across Canada, which, when combined with funding from other partners, totals $1.2 billion in 112 innovative research projects and sophisticated science and technology platforms.
A detailed list of approved projects is available on the Genome Canada website at: Approved Projects.The Genome Canada Board of Directors is composed of 16 members from government, industry and the scientific community in Canada. The Chairman is Dr. Cal Stiller, Chair and CEO of Stilco Investments Limited. The President and CEO is Dr. Martin Godbout. The list of the Board Members is also available on Genome Canada's website.
Mandate: Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy in genomics and proteomics research for the benefit of Canadians. Genome Canada has received $600 million from the Government of Canada to coordinate genomics and proteomics research nationally, which enables Canada to be a world leader in genomics and proteomics research in key selected areas such as agriculture, environment, fisheries, forestry and health and new technology development.
Story Ideas:
2007
May 22, 2007: Canada's New Government and Quebec Government make one of the largest investments in International Genomics Research
February 18, 2007: Canadian scientists lead international autism genome discoveries; Canadian team launches second phase of international autism genome project
January 31, 2007: Grafts Against Cancer, A Major Discovery To Identify “Dangerous Donors” In Advance
January 29, 2007: Findings of Genome BC-funded Scientists Published by Prestigious International Journal
2006
December 20, 2006: Canada’s New Government Invests $200,000 for Genome Research to Control Clostridium Difficile
November 22, 2006: Researchers redefine understanding of variation in the human genome
November 8, 2006: Genomics on the Hill: A One-of-Kind Exhibition of Canadian Excellence in Genomics and Proteomics
September 15, 2006: Canadian Scientists Play Key Role in Analyzing Poplar's DNA Blueprint: Findings Published in Science
September 11, 2006: Canadian and International Scientists team up for the creation of an International Public Resource for Understanding Human Disease
August 14, 2006: The Cow Genome Project Heads for Home
June 14, 2006: Genome Canada Appoints Wellcome Trust Giant
May 24, 2006: Government of Canada Announces Over $18 Million in Funding for World-Class Genome Canada Research Facilities
March 22, 2006: Provincial Government commits $45 million worth of funding to Genome BC as part of the new budget
January 18, 2006: Canadian Researchers Solve 45-Year-Old Mystery
January 17, 2006: If You Could, Would You? If We Can, Should We?
2005
December 22, 2005: Who Should Govern Science? Half of Canadians trust scientific experts
December 19, 2005: Montreal-Based Researcher Recognized for Achievement of the Year in Healthcare - Researcher led Canada's contribution to the International HapMap Project
November 25, 2005: Genome Atlantic secures $6.45M for aquaculture genomics research project in Atlantic Canada
Oct. 27, 2005: International HapMap Project
October 14, 2005: Manitoba Scientist Makes Significant Contribution to World's Understanding of Human Genetic Diseases
October 4, 2005: Saskatchewan Researcher Receives Over $3 Million to Study Genomics of Cold Tolerance in Cereal Crops
September 6, 2005: Looking Back, Looking Forward: Lessons For Governing Emerging Technologies, September 22, 2005
August 25, 2005: Canadian Genomics Researchers Receive $346 Million for New Projects in Health, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Genome Canada Makes $167 Million Investment
August 2, 2005: Appointment of New Members to the Board of Genome Canada;Genome Canada and the Estonian Biocentre Signed an MOU Recently to Promote Genomics Scientific and Industrial Collaboration.
May 25, 2005: Structural Genomics Consortium Celebrates First Anniversary with 50 New Protein Structures Ahead of Plan
May 25, 2005: Estonia and Canada agree to promote scientific and industrial cooperation
May 20, 2005: Manitoba student wins top genomics award at Canada-Wide Science Fair 2005
April 19, 2005: Mount Sinai Hospital Launches Unleashed Bioinformatics Limited in Partnership with Sun Microsystems
April 11, 2005: The Role of the Media in the Public's Understanding of Science, Canadian Museum of Nature, April 21, 2005
April 8, 2005: Genome Atlantic and The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) Will Host The International Conference on Microbial Genomes, April 13-16, 2005 at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
March 21, 2005: UBC Team Sequence Largest Bacterial Genome to Date: May Facilitate Clean Up of Hazardous Waste and Development of New Antibiotics
March 7, 2005: GE3LS Symposium 2005: Experts Explore Risks And Benefits Of Genomics Research In Agriculture, Environment, Fisheries And Forestry
February 23, 2005: Federal Budget 2005 Statement by Dr. Martin Godbout, President
2004
November 2004: Personalized Medicine In Cancer: Matching Patients And Drugs; New Genetic Tests Are Helping Physicians Figure Out Who Will Benefit From Lung Cancer; Drugs And Why; Yellowstone Microbe Cleans Up Wastewater; Mutations Cause Rare Form Of Parkinson's; Heart Disease, Stroke Linked To Defective Gene; Young Mice On Prozac Become Anxious Adults
October 2004: A Fight About The World's Toughest Microbe; A Microbe That Can Withstand More Radiation Than Any Other Creature On Earth Is At The Center Of A Contentious Debate Among Scientists About Why It Is So Tough; Depression May Alter Genes That Protect Neurons New Study To Explore Genetics Of Autism; Timothy Syndrome Is Caused By Defective Calcium Channels; Inside DNA, An Art Gallery
October 2004: Bovine Genome Assembled International Effort Makes Data Freely Available To Scientists Worldwide; Depression May Alter Genes in the Brain; Gene Mutation Causes Rare Disorder in Children; New Study to Explore Genetics of Autism; Some Smokers Risk Rheumatoid Arthritis; Alzheimer's Drugs and Leukemia; Cancer Gene Map Spans 22 Types of Tumors
September 18, 2004: Gene Discovery Further Unravels Mysteries Of Complex Disease Three Years After The Anthrax Letters, Are We Safer?; Drugs May Help Ex-Smokers Who Overeat; MRIS Recommended For Some Breast Cancer Patients; Scientists Map DNA That Control Genes; Human Chromosome 5 Complete; Nanoflowers, An Art Gallery
September 14, 2004: What's New? World Conference of Science Journalists; National Genomics and Proteomics Symposium; The Applied Computational Genomics Course (ACGC)
July 2004: Eat Less, Live Longer?; Gene Controls Serotonin, A Key To Good Moods; Debate Over Adult Stem Cells Continues; Heart Drug May Help Children Treated For Leukemia; Gene Test Tracks Spread Of Polio
June 25, 2004: 67 Genes That Count In Cancer; Strong Boy Could Benefit Research On Muscular Dystrophy; World's First Stem Cell Bank Opens In UK; Smoking Has Lasting Effect On Genes; Study To Explore Blood Stem Cells As Therapy For Lupus; Growing Stem Cells, An Art Gallery
June 10, 2004: Life Found Inside Glacier
May 31, 2004: How Gene Mutations Cause Colorblindness; Gene Defect Causes Rare Form Of Diabetes; Aspirin May Protect Against Breast Cancer; Cloning The Clone Of Famed Japanese Bull; Purebred Dogs Have Their Own Genes
May 2004: Air Pollution Causes Genetic Mutations; Cicadas Are Right On Time. But Why?; Gene Protects Against Heart Attack And Stroke; Urine Test Detects Kidney Cancer
May 11, 2004: Cicadas Are Right On Time. But Why
May 13, 2004: Western Canadian Students Sweep Top 3 Awards In 2004 National Biotech Contest
April 27, 2004: On With Discovery! The Geee! In Genome Exhibition Opens At The I.H. Asper Clinical Research Institute At St. Boniface General Hospital
May 2004: Why A Cancer Drug Works So Well In Some People; New Approaches To Lou Gehrig's Disease; Cystic Fibrosis Mouse May Open Door To New Therapies; Small Genes May Help "Mono" Virus Hide In Humans; Mantis Shrimp, An Art Gallery
April 2004: Protein Implicated In Parkinson's Disease Bone Marrow Stem Cell Trial Approved For Heart Patients
Leptin, The Appetite Hormone, Rewires The Brain Hip Hair From Hot Microbe
April 13, 2004: Six Projects Worth $44 Million Awarded To BC Genomics Researchers; Forty-Two Million Dollars Awarded To Genome Québec Projects; Three Projects Worth $24 Million Awarded To Ontario Genomics; Two University Of Alberta Teams Awarded A Total Of $18 Million To Study Organ Transplant Rejection Mechanisms And Small Molecule Metabolites As Markers For Disease
April 2004: Got A Toxic Mess? Call In The Microbes; The Rat Genome Unveiled; Diabetes Susceptibility Gene Discovered; Deadly Human Parasite Sequenced; Two More Human Chromosomes Are Complete; Nature Close Up, An Art Gallery
March 23, 2004: Government Of Canada's Continued Investment In Genomics Research Benefits All Canadians; Stem Cell Repair Of Heart Tissue Questioned Again; New Virus Infects Infant In Amsterdam; The New Issue Of Genome News Network Is Now Available; Delaying The Onset Of Huntington's Disease, Perhaps By Decades; U.S.-Funded Stem Cell Research In Sweden Open To Misinterpretation; Movie Captures Genome In Action; New Approaches Speed Ebola Vaccine Development; A Review Of "Tears Of The Cheetah" By Stephen J. O'Brien; And "Twigs, Weeds And Wire," An Art Gallery; For These Stories And "A Quick Guide To Sequenced Genomes"
March 2004: Genome Canada Is Proud To Present The Genome Education Centre, A New Education Web Site Aimed At Students, Teachers And The Generally Curious--This Fun, Entertaining And New Web Site Can Be Found At: www.genomeeducation.ca
March 2004: Exploring The Sargasso Sea: Craig Venter Is Bringing Genomics To The World's Oceans
March 2004: Monkey Protein Fights HIV From Inside Cells; Bird Flu In Pennsylvania Poses Uncertain Risk To People; Money And Microbes In Antarctica; Honing In On Potential Cancer Drugs; What Could Happen If Genetically Modified Fish Get Loose
February 16, 2004: Detection Advance Offers Cancer At A Glance
February 13, 2004: BC Scientists To Explore The 'Science Of Wine' As Part Of $6.2 Million International Grape Genomics Research Project
February 5, 2004: Theatre Workshop Explores Ethical Issues Of Testing For Breast Cancer Genes
February 5, 2004: Will Certain Types Of Food Help Us Prevent Cancer? Annual Ethics Symposium Opening Event Tackles The Link Between Dietary Habits And Genetic Disease
2003
December 17, 2003: Mapping A Road To Understanding Human Health - International Hapmap Project Starts The Cartography Of Human Genome Variation
December 12, 2003: Veneman Announces Bovine Genome Sequencing Project
November 11, 2003: President Aznar Celebrates Research Collaboration between Spain and Canada
October 10, 2003: Montreal Scientist Named Head of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO)
October 8, 2003: Montreal Hosts Largest Gathering Of Proteomics Scientist In The World, City Selected As New International Headquarters; Regulating Stem Cell Research - Students At 5000 Canadian High Schools Look For Answers That Have Mired MPs
September 23, 2003: New Deputy Minister of Canada To Speak At Canada's First National Genomics And Proteomics Symposium
September 11, 2003: Key Genomics And Proteomics Projects To Be Presented And Discussed At Canada's First National Symposium
September 8, 2003: McGill University And Genome Quebec Innovation Centre - Global Hub Of Genomic And Proteomic Research
September 7, 2003: Sick Kids Scientists Identify Gene For Most Severe Form Of Adolescent Form Of Epilepsy
August 27, 2003: Genome Canada Wins Five Prestigious Awards For Its Annual Report
June 23, 2003: $65 Million For Applied Genomics And Proteomics Research Projects Aimed At Human Health
June 20, 2003: Blueprint Initiative Secures CND $29 Million To Build Out World's Largest Proteomics Database
May 16, 2003: Vancouver Student Wins Top Genomics Award at Canada-Wide Science Fair 2003
April 25, 2003: Prime Minister Chrétien Opens The Geee! in Genome: A Bold New Travelling Exhibition on DNA, Genes and the Impact of Genomic Research
April 12, 2003: Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre Sequences SARS-Associated Coronavirus
April 10, 2003: DNA Sequence of Chromosome 7 Decoded
April 7, 2003: BC Cancer Agency Partners to Sequence the SARS Virus Genome
April 3, 2003: UK-Canadian Consortium Commits $95 Million to the Largest International Health Research Project Ever Funded in Canada
April 1, 2003:Meet the Human Genome: Upcoming lecture at Museum of Nature
January 29, 2003: Key Ethical Issues to be Debated at Canada's First GE3LS Winter Symposium: DNA Banking, Gene Patenting and Cloning are Some of the Issues on the Table.
2001
December 17, 2001: Protecting Genomics Research: Ensuring Canada is a World Leader
Updated: July 31, 2007