The funding opportunity is a response to the urgent need for further research on COVID-19 and represents a total Genome Canada investment of $1.5 million. Delivered together with Canada’s six regional Genome Centres, the fund aims to support genomics-informed solutions to COVID-19 at local, provincial and national levels through collaborations between academia and the industry, not-for-profit and public sectors.
“We are harnessing the full power of Genome Canada’s national network of researchers,” said Dr. Rob Annan, President and CEO of Genome Canada. “We are taking cues from our governments, who are making swift investments in a diverse mix of research solutions, from testing and diagnostics to treatments and vaccines. This variety of research approaches is what will move us to containment in the short-term and to sustainable management in the long-term.”
The initiative will use a fast-tracked review process for evaluating applications, enabling researchers to initiate projects quickly and deliver rapid solutions to the most pressing challenges of COVID-19. Projects can range from small-scale to large-scale applied research and are expected to be focused on delivering genomics-based outcomes that address the immediate needs of the public health emergency.
Projects and programs funded through this initiative must adhere to the principles and guidelines of the joint statement on sharing research data and findings relevant to the COVID-19 outbreak, related to World Health Organization commitments. By ensuring open and timely research and data sharing, Canadian researchers can help inform the public health response both at home and abroad.
“The initiative is optimized for rapid turnaround while maintaining high review standards and informed decision-making,” noted Annan. “By investing in sound science to deliver rapid impact across the country, we increase our chances of overcoming the challenges of this pandemic more quickly. I have no doubt that the Canadian research community is up to the task.”
For more information on this program is available here.
