The Sector Innovation Program (SIP) aims to support strategically important genomics research with long-term potential to address the needs and challenges of key sectors in BC’s economy and society. Each intake of the program has a specific strategic focus.
To date, Genome BC has committed an investment of $11M to the SIP program and plans to allocate funds, as necessary, to run regular intakes of the program. As each SIP intake has a strategic focus, applications to SIP will only be open to projects that address the strategic focus of that particular intake.
Objective
The focus of this intake (SIP-Intake 9 or SIP9) is to support genomics research that advances women’s health and wellbeing across the life course. Despite women representing 51 percent of Canada’s population, only 7 percent of national research funding over the past 15 years has focused on women’s health. This gap reflects a broader pattern where conditions affecting women remain under-researched and under-funded. SIP9 aims to address this gap through inclusive, genomics-based research that reflects the diversity of those assigned female at birth, including cis women and gender diverse populations.
Genomics can help improve understanding of disease risk, progression, and outcomes, and support more precise and equitable approaches to care.
Through this competition, Genome BC aims to support research projects in the following key areas:
- Female-specific conditions: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, gynecological cancers, maternal and perinatal health, perimenopause and menopause
- Conditions with higher burden in women: Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, chronic pain
- Conditions with under-researched sex and gender impacts: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health and social wellbeing
Genomics & Society (G&S):
- Integration of G&S Considerations: research must include at least one focused activity that addresses ethical, economic, legal, or social implications, aligned with the project’s stage and overall maturity.
- Stage-Appropriate Application: discovery-stage projects should focus on foundations of responsible innovation, while translational-stage projects should prioritize real-world application and system readiness, such as clinical implementation, economic evaluation, or policy integration.
