Genome research project secures corporate backing

The largest project ever funded by Genome Canada — Functional Patho-genomics of Mucosal Immunity — has netted two corporate sponsors. Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc of Vancouver and the newly created Pyxis Genomics Canada Inc (a subsidiary of Chicago-based Pyxis Genomics Inc) are contributing a total of $10.5 million for exclusive rights to commercialize discoveries arising from the project’s research. Project backers – Genome Prairie and Genome British Columbia, are still seeking an additional $3 million to match Genome Canada’s contribution of $13.5 million, announced last April (R$, April 17/02). The agricultural genomics project will conduct research to develop new strategies for control of infectious diseases in animals and humans. The research is being led by Dr Lorne Babiuk director of the Univ of Saskatchewan’s Veterinary Infectious Diseases Organization (VIDO) and Dr Bob Hancock, Univ of British Columbia. Pyxis is establishing an office at Innovation Place in Saskatoon and will recruit a staff of eight. VIDO will hire 30 personnel to conduct the research….