Innovation leads the way with the 2010 Strategic Opportunities Fund recipientsVancouver, BC— Genomics researchers in British Columbia received a boost of $3.2 million in funding today enabled by Genome BC's Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF) program.
The SOF program provides one-time funding to help seed innovative projects that are of key importance to the BC life sciences community and the province as a whole including human health, forestry, fisheries, bioenergy, agriculture, mining and the environment. Researchers submit project proposals to this funding competition that clearly articulate a plan to achieve strategic outcomes within one to two years. Only the best proposals are successful based on program criteria, scientific merit, and the potential impact to British Columbia.
This is the third time this competition has fostered new science initiatives in the province. Starting this fall, there are 12 new research projects that target identified issues in human health, forestry, new technology and agriculture.
"What stands out about these projects is they show a growth in the culture of innovation in BC's scientific community," says Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO of Genome BC. "Many of the projects have local and global applications, and are addressing key issues facing our world. The pace and ingenuity of genomics research has the potential to transform how we approach the most significant issues of our time."
Overall Genome BC awarded just under $1.5 million and other co-funders contributed a further $1.7 million to the following projects:
- Using methods of chemical genomics for developing potent androgen receptor inhibitors with a novel mode of action
- Population transcriptomics: harnessing next-generation sequencing technologies for adaptive genetic marker discovery to inform studies in ecology, evolution and conservation
- Development of a gene expression-based high-throughput screening platform for human T regulatory cell differentiation
- Poplar and cereal rust comparative genomics: identification of pathogen determinants to prevent and predict epidemics
- Development of a high-throughput proteomics platform for biomarker verification
- Rapid evolution of a clinical high throughput DNA sequencing
- Linking cholesterol metabolism, callousness and conduct disorder
- Linking infectious agents and cancer – A metagenomics approach
- Optimization of pyruvate kinase inhibitor lead compounds as novel therapeutics for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections
- Characterizing a bacterial recombinome
- Functional characterization of the transcriptional network driving mammalian brain development
- Adaptive molecular evolution in a unique British Columbia community: Population genomics of Haida Gwaii
- Rapid evolution of a clinical high-throughput DNA sequencing pipeline to next-generation sequencing
Descriptions of these projects can be found at: www.genomebc.ca/opportunities/funding-awarded/sof-3/.
Genome BC has just launched its fourth SOF funding competition. For information on how to apply, visit our current funding opportunities page here.
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About Genome British Columbia
Founded in 2000, Genome BC works collaboratively with government, universities and industry as the catalyst for a genomics-driven life sciences cluster with significant social and economic benefits for the Province and Canada. The organization's research portfolio, over $450 million since inception, includes 96 projects and technology platforms focused on areas of strategic importance to British Columbia such as human health, forestry, fisheries, bioenergy, mining, agriculture, and the environment. Genome BC programs are funded by the Provincial Government of British Columbia, the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada, and other public and private partners.
Media contact:
Rhian Walker
Communications Specialist, Genome BC
604-617-6955
rhian.walker@gmail.com
