International Projects

As part of initiatives to foster international collaborations and relationships, Genome British Columbia and Genome Canada had occasion to host competitions for large-scale, international-partnered research projects. These projects arose from partnerships with other international agencies and consortia seeking to foster large-scale research projects. These competitions and projects produced a unique opportunity for British Columbia and Canada to build collaborative relationships with other countries where appropriate matches of outstanding science were found. To date, two International projects have been hosted in British Columbia.

Genoma España

A Framework Agreement to Promote Scientific and Industrial Cooperation between Canada and Spain was signed in May 2002. The ensuing competition resulted in the approval of three new large-scale genomics research projects for a total value of $17 million, half provided by Genome Canada and the other half by Genoma España. The Grape Genomics (GrapeGen) project was a collaboration between Genome BC scientists and Spanish researchers to examine the genetic determinants of grape quality in both table grapes and wine grapes.

Project description: 
GrapeGen – A Genomic Approach to the Identification of the Genetic and Environmental Components Underlying Berry Quality in Grapevine

International Bovine Genome Sequencing Project
Genome British Columbia researchers were involved in the Bovine Sequencing Project, bringing the strength and expertise of full-length cDNA sequencing of the Genome British Columbia Sequencing platform to this international project. This project was launched following an initial Workshop on Bovine Genomics held in Montreal in June 2003.

The project was a US$55 million cooperative venture involving Genome Canada, Genome BC, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in the US, the office of the Governor of the State of Texas, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia, and Agritech Investments Ltd., Dairy Insight Incorporated and Agresearch Ltd. (of New Zealand). The Bovine Sequencing Project provided key insights to questions of both agriculture and human health and nutrition.

Project description: 
Bovine Genome Sequencing Project: Full-length cDNA Sequencing