Human Genome Update

LONDON, ON (Sept. 1, 2005) -- The Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, announced today that the Government of Canada, through Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI), will invest $65.3 million in 10 genomics and proteomics projects in Ontario. Canadian and international partners will contribute an additional $66.9 million for a total investment of $132.3 million. As part of these grants, Minister Fontana announced that Dr. Robert Hegele of Robarts Research Institute in London has been awarded $15.4 million for the Human Genome Project for Disease Study. “Today’s announcement is very significant for genomics and proteomics researchers in Ontario,” said Minister Fontana. “Their projects demonstrate that Canada intends to be at the forefront of genomics research – creating the knowledge, developing the products, seizing the opportunities and reaping the benefits of this remarkable area of science.” Minister Fontana made the announcement at Robarts on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, who last week announced funding, through Genome Canada, for 33 research projects totalling $346 million across Canada. He was joined by Dr. Christian Burks, President and CEO of the Ontario Genomics Institute, Dr. Mark Poznansky, President and Scientific Director of Robarts Research Institute, and Dr. Robert Hegele, Principal Investigator of the Human Genome Project for Disease Study. The Ontario Genomics Institute, which helps Ontario-based scientists secure funding for genomics-driven research and commercialization, had high praise for the London genomics initiative, which is creating a new slate of online genomics tools and applying those to better understand diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and breast cancer. “I am delighted that 10 projects in Ontario were successful in this competition,“ said Dr. Burks. “The work of Dr. Hegele and his colleagues is a prime example of overlaying cutting-edge technology with biomedical benefit. Their focus on mapping disease information onto the human genome will have a tremendous impact; not only on their own research, but on the advances of disease researchers worldwide.” Genome Canada has committed a maximum of $6.95 million over three years toward this research, with the remainder to be raised from private donations from individuals and corporations. The effect of the funding will be dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the value of each contribution. Dr. Hegele, whose research over the past 15 years has led to the identification of the cause of eight diseases and more than 100 genetic mutations related to high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease, is joined on the project by Dr. Stephen Scherer, Director for the Centre for Applied Genomics and Senior Scientist in the Department of Genetics at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children; Drs. Tim Hughes and Ben Blencowe, both at the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research at the University of Toronto; and Dr. Brendan Frey of University of Toronto’s Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “For the next three or four years, we will be in a unique position to be among the first to consolidate these new methods of analysis and apply them to help better understand the genetic component of diseases that extract a huge social and economic toll in Canada and around the world,” said Dr. Hegele. Dr. Hegele holds the Edith Schulich Vinet Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics and is also professor of medicine and biochemistry at The University of Western Ontario's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. He also holds the Jacob J. Wolfe Distinguished Medical Research Chair in Human Gene Function. “There is no better researcher in the country to lead this important initiative,” said Dr. Poznansky. “Dr. Hegele is known for his prolific research, his integrity and his clinical expertise, all of which make him the ideal leader on a project of this magnitude.” -30- For more information, please contact: Linda Quattrin Robarts Research Institute (519) 777-5601 Hélène Laurin Ontario Genomics Institute (416) 977-9582, ext. 284