Researchers in BC Attract Federal Funding to Advance Biotech Solutions

Eight research teams in British Columbia are set to receive federal funding.

These teams will receive a combined $8 million toward academia-industry collaborations that aim to validate health-tech solutions.

“This $8 million in British Columbia will go a long way in advancing the use of genomics to enhance the quality of care for our patients and to drive economic growth,” stated Dr. Tony Brooks, Genome BC Interim President and CEO.

The funding is part of $20 million in federal genomics investments distributed by the Government of Canada through the Genomics Applications Partnership Program from Genome Canada and its regional Genome Centres.

Five out of the 13 national projects were awarded to teams in British Columbia.

That includes Professor Amee Manges and Dr. Sam Chorlton’s “Rapid Agnostic Pathogen Identification using Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Project,” which aims to improve the early detection and surveillance of emerging respiratory pathogens across Canada.

Dr. Patrick Tang of the University of British Columbia and Dr. Mohammed Qadir of Fusion Genomics, meanwhile, are developing a clinically validated system to translate metagenomic sequencing data into clinically actionable results, which could enable healthcare providers to identify true infections and select appropriate treatments.

And UBC’s Dr. Paul Yong and Dr. Laura Williamson of AbCellera Biologics are partnering to identify novel ways to develop antibody-based therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition that costs Canada more than $1.8 billion annually.

The biotech projects “demonstrate how genomics allow us to optimize patient care, improve systems, and detect pathogens in humans and agriculture,” stated Brooks. “Our 25-year history of fostering industry-academic collaborations makes us uniquely positioned to deliver maximum impact for the province, Canada, and beyond.”

Genome British Columbia is funding research collaborations aimed at protecting the future of our food.

The organization is also working with UBC’s Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining.

“For BC to remain a competitive leader in the global energy transition, our mining sector must adopt technologies that are both economically viable and environmentally responsible,” Tony Brooks said in February.