A message from Genome BC’s President and CEO
As we get ready to turn the calendar page to 2023, I’m feeling optimistic about the new year and the opportunity to ‘restart’.
For three years, the pandemic has forced us to change how we live and interact. As the world reopens, genomics and data science are helping us adapt and keep it safe for us to work, play and live. Genomics technologies have helped us learn more about this virus and have been an integral tool for the surveillance of new variants and the development of vaccines. Science has helped guide decisions about how we connect while keeping people safe and healthy. Collectively, we are learning to live with a new normal and start re-engaging and making important connections. As a catalyst for genomics research and innovation, Genome BC’s strength has always been rooted in its ability to connect people and organizations. Alongside our ‘community of innovators’, it is essential we embrace an inclusive culture that supports diversity and provides the space for healthy debate around important issues that arise in the development, adoption and deployment of new technologies.
The Genome BC team continues to develop a culture that reflects our core values and strives to create a workplace where equity, diversity and inclusion are deliberate priorities for our organization.
As we look ahead, we will continue to deliver value for British Columbians by investing in world class genomics research and translating research results into practice through a focus on innovation. Translating the ideas and outcomes from our research investments into new or improved products, services, processes, systems or social interactions — has become a conscious and deliberate effort for Genome BC.
We have selected six inaugural projects through our ‘sandbox’ pilot innovation program to test a new approach to selecting and investing in innovation projects. This approach is as much about developing people, skills and ecosystem connections as it is about the project scope. We intend to launch a formal genomics innovation program next year.
We exist to harness the power of genomics to improve human health, protect our diverse ecosystems and mitigate climate change. As we experienced during the pandemic, genomics is no longer an emerging technology – its time is now, and it is solving real world problems. Genome BC will seize opportunities as they evolve to reduce barriers and accelerate the adoption and responsible deployment of genomics solutions into society, business and industry.
Through our partnerships with end-users, we also strive to build capacity in our social and economic sectors to enable faster adoption and deployment of genomics. For example, the Genomics Education for Health Professionals (GEHP) initiative aims to address a major barrier to the clinical implementation of genomics by providing new education tools to BC health care professionals.
We are proud to be part of BC’s growing and thriving life sciences sector. Through our relationships with academia, government and industry, we can act quickly and with purpose to solve pressing problems in innovative ways.
I am also proud of the Genome BC team, whose hard work was recognized last month with the Life Sciences BC’s Strategic Life Sciences Partner of the Year award. This recognition has been equally earned by each one of our team who works with dedication and passion towards our vision that genomics positively impacts life, every day.
Three months in, I am thrilled to be back at Genome BC. I look forward to a fresh start on some exciting new initiatives, meeting new friends and colleagues and working with our partners to build BC’s world class life sciences ecosystem.
