{{Short description|Canadian funding body}} {{Infobox organization | name = Genome Canada | formation = {{start date and age|2000|02|08}} | logo = Genome-Canada-logo.jpg | logo_size = | mapframe-coordinates = | type = Federally funded not-for-profit organization | headquarters = 150 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1 Canada | leader_title = President and CEO | leader_name = Rob Annan | budget = C$40 million (approximately) | budget_year = 2023-2024 | num_staff = 20 | website = {{URL|www.genomecanada.ca}} }}
'''Genome Canada''' is a non-profit organization that aims to use genomics-based technologies to improve the lives of Canadians. It is funded by the Government of Canada. Genome Canada provides large-scale investments that develop new technologies, connect the public sector with private industry, and create solutions to problems of national interest, such as health, sustainable resources, the environment, and energy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lemay |first=Margaret A. |date=2020-06-01 |title=The Role of Expectations of Science in Shaping Research Policy: A Discursive Analysis of the Creation of Genome Canada |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-020-09395-5 |journal=Minerva |language=en |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=235–260 |doi=10.1007/s11024-020-09395-5 |issn=1573-1871|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://genomecanada.ca/about/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref>
Between 2000 and 2017, Genome Canada provided C$1.5 billion Canadian dollars in genomics funding, which has attracted an additional C$2.1 billion in co-funding from partners in the private, public and non-profit sectors within Canada and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Co-Funding |url=http://www.genomecanada.ca/en/about-us/accountability/co-funding |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202094001/http://www.genomecanada.ca/en/about-us/accountability/co-funding |archive-date=2016-02-02 |access-date=2016-01-27}}</ref> On its website, it reports 20 staff (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our people |url=https://genomecanada.ca/about/our-people/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref> Funding expenses in 2023-2024 were approximately C$40 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023-24 ANNUAL REPORT - HARNESSING GENOMICS FOR IMPACT |url=https://genomecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GC-AnnualReport-2023-24_EN_web.pdf |access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref>
The '''President''' and CEO of Genome Canada is Rob Annan.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-11-12 |title=Dr. Rob Annan to Lead Genome Canada |url=https://genomecanada.ca/dr-rob-annan-lead-genome-canada/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Annan |url=https://genomecanada.ca/team-directory/rob-annan/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref> The '''Chair''' of the Board of Directors is Bonnie Schmidt.<ref name="Governance">{{Cite web |title=Governance |url=https://genomecanada.ca/about/governance/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bonnie Schmidt |url=https://genomecanada.ca/team-directory/bonnie-schmidt/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History == Following the progress of the international Human Genome Project in the 1990s, Genome Canada was established on February 8, 2000, with a mandate to build Canada’s technological and human capacity in genomics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Genome Canada timeline |url=https://genomecanada.ca/about/genome-canada-timeline/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref> The distributed approach with six regional centres and the GE<sup>3</sup>LS program were integral from the beginning.<ref name=":0" />
The most recent five-year evaluation by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada was published in June 2020 with recommendations for efficiency gains and to minimize duplications.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Audit and Evaluation Branch |date=2020-09-04 |title=Evaluation of Genome Canada |url=https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/audits-evaluations/en/evaluation/evaluation-genome-canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203114842/https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/audits-evaluations/en/evaluation/evaluation-genome-canada |archive-date=2024-12-03 |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=ised-isde.canada.ca |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" />
On the 25-years anniversary of Genome Canada, a C$175-million '''Canadian Genomics Strategy''' was announced.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-06 |title=Ottawa announces $175-million to create national genomics strategy |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ottawa-announces-175-million-to-create-national-genomics-strategy/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada (ISED) |date=2025 |title=Canadian Genomics Strategy |url=https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/genomics/sites/default/files/documents/genomics-strategy2025-1-en.pdf |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
The corporate '''2025-2030 Strategic Direction''' lists these four imperatives:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Genome |date=2025-05-08 |title=Strategic Directions 2025-2030 |url=https://genomecanada.ca/strategic-directions-2025-30/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref>
# Strengthening national sovereignty # Enhancing economic security # Safeguarding environmental sustainability # Ensuring inclusivity in genomics
=== Presidents ===
* Martin Godbout (Founding president and CEO; 2000–2009)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inno-Centre {{!}} Martin Godbout |url=https://www.inno-centre.com/management-team/martin-godbout |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=www.inno-centre.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr. Martin Godbout |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-15512 |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=The Governor General of Canada |language=en}}</ref> ** Cindy Bell (Interim; March–October 2009) ** Dale Patterson (Interim; October 2009–October 2010)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2009-2010 |url=https://genomecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2009-10-Annual-Report.pdf |access-date=28 September 2025}}</ref> * Pierre Meulien (October 2010–July 2015)<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-06-03 |title=Genome Canada to stress practical results |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/genome-canada-to-stress-practical-results/article12304782/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> ** Cindy Bell (Interim; July 2015–January 2016) * Marc LePage (January 2016–January 2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierre |date=2015-12-22 |title=Mr. Marc LePage Appointed President and CEO of Genome Canada |url=https://genomecanada.ca/mr-marc-lepage-appointed-president-and-ceo-genome-canada/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref> * Rob Annan (January 2020–current)<ref name=":1" />
== Governance == Genome Canada was established under the Canada Corporations Act in 2000 and, in 2012, was issued new Articles of Continuance under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. It is governed by a Board of Directors of up to 16 individuals from the academic, private, and public sectors. The board has a permanent Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC).<ref name="Governance"/>
Every five years, Genome Canada undertakes a summative evaluation. These five-year reports as well as the audit reports are public.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Evaluation |url=https://genomecanada.ca/about/corporate-policies-and-statements/evaluation/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Regional genome centres == Genome Canada was created as '''six independent regional genome centres''' which are supported by headquarters in the Nation's Capital, Ottawa. Arranged geographically from West to East, the six centres (and the cities in which their administrative centres are located) are: *Genome British Columbia (Vancouver)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genome BC |url=https://www.genomebc.ca/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=Genome BC |language=en-US}}</ref> *Genome Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genome Alberta |url=https://genomealberta.ca/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=Genome Alberta |language=en-CA}}</ref> *Genome Prairie (Saskatoon, Winnipeg)<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Genome Prairie |url=https://genomeprairie.ca/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=genomeprairie.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> *Ontario Genomics (Toronto)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ontario Genomics |url=https://www.ontariogenomics.ca/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=Ontario Genomics |language=en-US}}</ref> *Génome Québec (Montréal)<ref>{{Cite web |title=GénomeQuébec inc. |url=https://genomequebec.com/en/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> *Genome Atlantic (Halifax)<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Genome Atlantic |url=https://genomeatlantic.ca/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=genomeatlantic.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>
== GE<sup>3</sup>LS: Ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social aspects == Genome Canada also funds research on the ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social aspects of genomics, which they call '''GE<sup>3</sup>LS''' (the same research direction is called ELSI or ELSA in the United States and in Europe, respectively). This includes topics such as genetic privacy and genetic discrimination, as well as public acceptance of genetically modified organisms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genomics in society |url=https://genomecanada.ca/how-we-work/genomics-in-society/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Controversies == In 2009, Genome Canada made international science news when it withdrew approximately C$18 million from the International Regulome Consortium.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2009-04-01 |title=Genome Canada cancels stem-cell project funding |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/458819c |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=458 |issue=7240 |pages=819–819 |doi=10.1038/458819c |issn=1476-4687}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The International Regulome Consortium |url=https://genomecanada.ca/project/international-regulome-consortium/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=GenomeCanada |language=en-US}}</ref> This happened in the broader context of a decline in funding under the administration of Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister from 2006-2015.
== See also ==
* Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) * Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) * Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) * Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://genomecanada.ca Official website]
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Category:Federal departments and agencies of Canada Category:Genetics or genomics research institutions