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Name of Horizontal Initiative: Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI)
Name of lead department(s): National Research Council (NRC)
Lead department program activity: Health and Life Sciences Technologies
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: 1999-2000
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: 2010-11 (The current phase of GRDI is from 2008-09 to 2010-11)
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $234,100,000
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The
GRDI was established for the purpose of building
and maintaining capacity inside government departments to do genomics research. As an enabling technology, genomics
provides powerful tools and precise information to support operational mandates and upon which policy and regulatory
decisions can be based. Federal science-based departments and agencies interact with partners, stakeholders and clients
and link these enabling tools and technologies to value-added applications that enable Canada to respond to national
priorities, deliver on government mandates and support the development of wealth for Canadians.
These applications range from international requirements for genomics-enabled testing to support access of exported
products; the ability to interpret and assess genomics information submitted with product information for regulatory
oversight; the development of assays and products using genomics approaches for enhancing Canadian's lives (e.g. public
health, food safety), the environment and sustainability of human activities; socio-economic and ethical considerations
related to the use and integration of genomics in healthcare, environmental sustainability activities, and consumer
and industrial products and applications; and facilitating Canadians' access to accurate and understandable information
concerning genome sciences.
Shared outcome(s): A revised Results-based Management Accountability Framework (RMAF) was prepared for GRDI in 2006-07 based on an ultimate outcome of enhanced quality of life in terms of health and safety, environment, and socio-economic development. Long-term outcomes include: improved health care (e.g. diagnostics and treatment, reduced heath and environmental risks, reduced heath costs); reduced environmental impacts (e.g. water quality, healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, agriculture, forestry and aquaculture); and improved competitiveness of Canadian companies (e.g. diversification, improved productivity, cost reductions, sustainable development).
Governance structure(s): An interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Coordinating Committee has been established to oversee collective management
and coordination of the federal GRDI. The Committee
ensures that effective priority setting mechanisms are established within departments, and that government objectives
and priorities are addressed.
The Committee also ensures that common GRDI management
principles are implemented and horizontal collaborations between organizations are pursued wherever relevant and possible.
The committee includes members from each of the organizations receiving funding and a representative from Industry Canada.
An Interdepartmental Working Group (WG) supports the work of the committee.
The mandate of the WG is to provide recommendations and advice to the
ADM Coordinating Committee regarding strategic priority setting
and overall management of the GRDI. The
WG also supports evaluation and reporting requirements related to the initiative.
NRC is the lead agency for the Initiative and chairs the
Coordinating Committee and the Working Group.
Planning Highlights: Fiscal year 2010-11 is the last year of
GRDI Phase IV. Participating departments and
agencies continue to invest in programs and projects that were selected at the beginning of the planning cycle (2008-09),
following assessments of satisfactory performance.
The global context has evolved since the policy authority was provided for
GRDI in 1999 and in the current climate of limited
resources, genomics R&D in federal laboratories largely depend on
this initiative. Canada needs to realign its intramural activities to address this new context, to prepare for next
generation technologies that will revolutionize genomics research, and to avoid losing ground. It needs to deliver on
the federal government's commitment to "promote more effective horizontal management of cross-cutting issues that
touch on government-wide priorities, and application of consistent mechanisms for promoting high accountability in the
use of federal S&T resources." With this in mind
GRDI will build on the success and relevance
of this horizontal initiative, consider Canada's evolving economic, scientific and policy contexts, and actively address
the recommendations received from the GRDI's
Formative Review. The federal genomics R&D community is currently
planning a refocused GRDI with strengthened delivery
mechanisms around strategic priorities and improved interdepartmental integration to best fulfill the role of federal
research towards economic and social goals for Canada. It reflects the view that the new
GRDI must seek to a) Deliver high-impact solutions
to identified enduring and emerging issues through horizontal integration and effective partnerships for economic, social,
and environmental benefits for Canadians; and b) Support the priorities, policies and mandates of government through
concerted high calibre genomics research in areas where federal laboratories have distinct roles and competencies.
Federal Partner | Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2010-11 |
Expected Results for 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative | AAFC Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative | 71.0 | 6.0 | See note 1 |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) | Genomics and Biotechnology | Aquatic Biotechnology and Genomics R&D | 10.6 | 0.9 | See note 2 |
Environment Canada (EC) | Sustainable Consumption and Production Approaches | Strategic Applications of Genomics in the Environment | 12.0 | 1.0 | See note 3 |
Health Canada (HC) | Health Products and Food Branch – Health Products – Biologics | HC/PHAC Genomics Initiative | 46.0 | 4.0 | See note 4 |
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) | Natural Resource and Landmass knowledge for Canadians | NRCan-CFS Genomics R&D Initiative | 23.0 | 2.0 | See note 5 |
National Research Council (NRC) | Research and Development | Genomics and Health Initiative | 71.0 | 6.0 | See note 6 |
Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) | N/A – one time allocation in 1999-00 to assist in creation of Genome Canada Secretariat | N/A | 0.5 | 0.0 | N/A |
Total | 234.1 | 19.9 |
Expected Results:
1. Commercially relevant advances in areas of genomics
R&D related to human health (e.g. genetic testing, diagnostics,
microbial genomic applications, treating and preventing human diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and
pathogen detection).
2. Improvements in crop value in cereals, soybean and canola through quality improvements
in areas related to plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses (e.g. resistance to disease, tolerance to drought
and cold), as well as seed development and metabolism (e.g. related to oil content for biofuels and nutraceutical applications).
3. Sustainable management of aquatic resources through the use of genomics tools to:
manage fishery openings; generate increased understanding of population genetics and structure; further understanding
of behavioural, physiological and immunological responses to the environment; and through the management of aquatic
animal diseases.
4. Positioning the Canadian regulatory system for health to enable innovation while minimizing
the risks to Canadians through a focused genomics R&D program aimed
at strengthening capacity in priority areas such as genetic information, biotechnology products, human genomics and
microbial genomics, on human, animal and environmental health.
5. Increased knowledge for forest generation and protection methods, and for addressing
environmental impact considerations, through a focused genomics R&D
effort on species and traits that are of economic importance to Canada.
6. Development of genome-science applications to support regulatory and enforcement activities
in key areas such as environmental risk assessment and management; enforcement and compliance; pollution detection,
monitoring and prevention; conservation biology and wildlife genetics.
Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) ($ millions) |
Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2010–11 ($ millions) |
---|---|
234.1 | 19.9 |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners: N/A
Contact information:
Gary Fudge, P. Eng.
Director, Life Sciences Horizontal Initiatives
National Research Council Canada
613-949-0542