Six science and technology platforms across Canada will receive more than $18.6 million in funding from Genome Canada over the next 15 months. The platforms provide the tools and expertise to analyze genomes in various ways and include services such as DNA sequencing, mapping, genotyping, microarrays, genetic analysis, proteomics and bioinformatics.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting scientific innovation and discovery,” said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry. “The funding for these science and technology platforms gives researchers funded by Genome Canada, as well as other funding agencies, access to the tools and equipment they need to conduct successful science that will benefit Canadians.”

“The science and technology platforms have produced many important scientific achievements, including successfully sequencing the genome of a virulent strain of C.difficile prevalent in Quebec and genotyping chromosomes that were key components of Canada’s participation in the International HapMap Consortium,” said Dr. Martin Godbout, President and CEO of Genome Canada. “The platforms offer world-class services that provide the science and leading edge technology that enable Canadian researchers to compete on the international stage.”

Genome Canada-funded projects and platforms require the most up-to-date technology to be internationally competitive, and in some cases require new tools and devices that are not available from commercial vendors, often because they represent very specific applications with a limited market. In response to this need, science and technology platforms were established to allow the mutual sharing of equipment, expertise, and engineering resources. Though the primary mandate of the platforms is to provide genomic, proteomic and bioinformatic technology services for all Genome Canada-funded projects and platforms, a minimum of 20 per cent of their activities are also dedicated to collaborations with researchers funded by other agencies. The funded platforms are located in Vancouver (2), Victoria, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation that acts as the primary funding and information resource relating to genomics and proteomics in Canada. Dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy in genomics and proteomics research for the benefit of all Canadians, it has received $600 million in funding from the Government of Canada, which when combined with funding from other partners, totals $1.25 billion in more than 100 innovative research projects and sophisticated science and technology platforms.