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Name of Horizontal Initiative: Genomics R&D Initiative (GRDI)

Name of Lead Department: National Research Council Canada (NRC)

Lead Department Program Activity: Health and Life Science Technologies

Start Date: April 1999

End Date: March 2011 (renewal requested for 2011-14)

Total Federal Funding Allocation (from start date to end date): $234.1M

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The Initiative was established to build and maintain genomics research capacity in government and to deliver value-added applications for responding to national priorities and government mandates as well as for building wealth for Canadians.

Shared Outcome: Genomic contributions for enhancing the quality of life for Canadians in terms of health, safety, environment, and social and economic development.

Governance Structure(s): An interdepartmental Genomics R&D ADM Committee manages and coordinates the Initiative. The Committee ensures that effective priority setting mechanisms are established within departments and that investments are focused and strategic. It also ensures that common management principles are implemented and that horizontal collaborations between organizations are pursued. The Committee is represented by Industry Canada plus each of the Federal Partners: NRC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Health Canada (HC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Environment Canada (EC), and Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). An Interdepartmental Working Group (WG) provides recommendations and advice to the ADM Coordinating Committee regarding strategic priority setting and overall management. It also supports evaluation and reporting. The NRC chairs the Committee and the WG.

Performance Highlights:

Federal Partner	Federal Partner Program Activity	Names of Programs for Federal Partner	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) ($ millions)	2010-11
				Planned Spending ($ millions)	Actual Spending ($ millions)	Expected Results	Results Achieved
NRC	Health and Life Science Technologies	Genomics and Health Initiative	71.0	6.0	6.0	Commercially- relevant advances in genomics R&D related to human health.	A bench-top prototype incorporating biochip technology has been developed and built that dramatically shortens the time required for detecting and distinguishing between closely related bacterial strains related to human health. This tool will be further refined into a compact, storable unit that will shorten and simplify the protocol for pathogen detection in food products. A tool has been developed, based on a breast cancer tumour's genetic signature that helps physicians to determine a patient's prognosis and need for chemotherapy. This tool can reduce both the patient morbidity and the costs associated with unnecessary chemotherapy.
AAFC	Science, Innovation and Adoption	Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative	71.0	6.0	6.0	Improvements in crop value of cereals, soybean and canola.	Specific genes or diagnostic markers were identified for improving 1) white rust disease resistance, insect resistance, and phenolic content and hence the health benefits of canola; 2) early maturity, allergenicity and other health benefits of soybeans; and 3) resistance to rust diseases and to Fusarium blight in wheat. Genes have been identified and characterized in Brassica carinata (a mustard oilseed crop related to Brassica napus – canola) that have been shown to increase seed oil content and crop yield. Through a strategic partnership with NRC, the Canadian agricultural biotechnology company Agrisoma Biosciences is conducting tests with these genes to assess Brassica carinata as a value added crop for bio-diesel production.
DFO	Biotechnology and Genomics	Aquatic Biotechnology and Genomis R&D	10.6	0.9	0.9	Genomic knowledge for sustainable management of aquatic resources.	Researchers have developed genetic markers that are being used to, for example, increase understanding of population genetics and structure of Redfish species, Dolly Varden char and capelin; assess the migratory fitness of wild Pacific salmon; monitor aquatic invasive tunicate species; and evaluate the diversity and nature of genetic variation of wild and captive-bred Atlantic salmon.
HC	Emerging Health Issues	HC/PHAC Genomics Initiative	46.0	4.0	4.0	Genomic knowledge for the Canadian health regulatory system.	Biochemical pathways perturbed by exposure to environmental hazards such as radiation from natural sources and consumer devices (e.g. cell phones), chemical carcinogens and endocrine disruptors were identified with the objective of supporting Health Canada's regulation of risks associated with environmental hazards. Gene responses to different dietary fibres were identified and investigated to assist in the policy decisions on regulating these nutritional components. Public health-ready versions of the emerging high- throughput genome sequencing technologies are being developed by using priority pathogens as case studies, including Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. These approaches include the laboratory technologies for the acquisition and finishing of whole bacterial genomes, and the informatic tools needed for the assembly, annotation and analysis of genome data in the context of molecular epidemiology.
NRCan	Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources	NRCan-CFS Genomics R&D Initiative	23.0	2.0	2.0	Genomic knowledge for forest generation and protection.	Development of molecular markers a) towards the selection of spruce trees with desired characteristics, b) offering resistance to blister rust in white pine, and c) allowing the differentiation of Hemlock Looper (moth pest) ecotypes for use in tree breeding or pest management. Construction of the most complete genetic map of a conifer (white spruce) allowing the transfer of markers among spruce species. Identification of genes involved in pathogen-host interactions of Douglas fir and poplar which strengthens the understanding of pathogen resistance in trees.
EC	Canadians Adopt Sustainable Consumption and Production Approaches	Strategic Applications of Genomics in the Environment	12.0	1.0	1.0	Genomic applications for risk assessment/ management, wildlife conservation/ management, and enforcement.	Tools and approaches were developed for assessing the risk of potentially toxic substances in the environment, to inform enforcement and compliance decisions, and to learn more about individual species (e.g., population structure and mating behaviour), which may contribute to the development of wildlife conservation and management plans.
CIHR	N/A	N/A	0.5	N/A	N/A	CIHR received a single allocation in 1999-00 to assist in creation of Genome Canada Secretariat.	There are no expected results.
Total			234.1	19.9	19.9

Comments on Variances: No variance was reported.

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A

Contact information: Gary Fudge, P. Eng., Director, Life Sciences Horizontal Initiatives, National Research Council, 613-949-0542