Genome Canada has launched a new funding opportunity for the generation of population-level genomic data, which will be the first pillar of its soon-to-be-announced large-scale precision health initiative. The goal of Genome Canada’s planned investment in the first pillar of the initiative is to sequence the genomes of at least 100,000 Canadians, reflecting Canada’s unique and diverse population. This will provide the rich dataset needed to advance research, drive innovation and improve health care outcomes for all Canadians.
To be eligible, projects must:
- Generate a minimum of 2,000 genomes.
- Complete whole-genome sequencing (WGS) at a Genome Canada–approved sequencing centre.
- Include self-identified race, ethnicity and ancestry data in their depositions and report and quantitatively characterize this data.
- Obtain Research Ethics Board approval.
- Obtain required participant consent.
Key elements of the Canadian Precision Health Initiative – Pillar one funding opportunity:
| Funding Envelope: |
Approx. $60M for WGS using Illumina short-read technology |
|
Approx. $15M for WGS using Oxford Nanopore/PacBio long-read technology |
| Project Duration: |
Up to 4 years (must be completed by March 31, 2029) |
| Project Funding: |
Up to $6M per project from Genome Canada for short-reads |
|
Up to $10M per project from Genome Canada for each of PacBio and Oxford Nanopore long-reads |
| Co-funding: |
Genome Canada’s contribution must be matched at least 1:1 |
|
Genome BC is committed to providing co-funding support for BC-based projects. See below for details |
| Application Process: |
Letter of Intent and Full Application |
| Deadline: |
Draft Letters of Intent are due to Genome BC by 9:00 am, October 28, 2024 |
Genome BC is committed to providing co-funding up to 66.66% of Genome Canada’s contribution, for projects submitted to Genome Canada’s Canadian Precision Health Initiative – Pillar 1 (CPHI-Pillar 1) that are led by a BC-based project leader. The co-funding provided by Genome BC will be restricted to expenditures incurred in the Province of British Columbia. Genome BC co-funding is conditional upon approval of the final project and budget by Genome Canada, availability of funds and approval by Genome BC’s Board of Directors. Any changes to the proposed project and budget that affect Genome BC’s contribution must be approved by Genome BC.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Genome BC for a copy of the Letter of Intent documents at CPHI@genomebc.ca as soon as possible.
