BC government provides an additional $25 million in funding for Genome BC

The British Columbia government is investing an additional $25 million in Genome BC, increasing its support for the agency's current-five year plan to $75 million. The latest funding is expected to leverage $265 million from other sources for a total of $340 million, significantly more than the amount raised in the previous 2005-2010 five-year strategy.

Since its inception in 2001, Genome BC — like Genome Canada and other regional genomics agencies — has helped to lead the remarkable transformation in genomics and proteomics R&D, moving from primarily research-focused projects to more directed initiatives, many of which involved major international collaborations. The latest five-year period is focused on strategic investments in applications in sectors considered economically significant by the provincial government: life sciences, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, bioenergy, mining and the environment.

"We're not expecting more from the province for the current five-year plan although specific opportunities may arise. And the plan's $340-million target is dependent upon the economic times," says Dr Alan Winter, Genome BC's president and CEO. "Genomics is at a point where people are seeing specific opportunities. Industry and groups like the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust are willing to put up funding."

strong showing in genome canada competitions

Riding high with impressive showings in the last two Genome Canada funding competitions, Genome BC will use the new money to execute federally supported projects as well as participate in international collaborations and implement its own initiatives such as the new Proof of Concept (POC) program worth nearly $9 million.

"I'm very satisfied with the progress we've made. It's an exciting time for genomics as it moves from scientific understanding to comprehension to translation," says Winter. "The goal is to develop applications for each sector where end users can see improved competitiveness as a result. It takes a lot of effort."

The funding also allows Genome BC to support further development of its genomics platforms (now called Science and Technology Innovation Centres). Directed by Univ of British Columbia researcher Dr Andre Marziali, their aim is to develop new technologies for genomics and life sciences.

"We have a platform to help biologists when they want to converge genomics with nanotechnology," says Winter. "The platforms provide collaboration and services and good ideas come out of them."

The platform program has already helped spur the creation of a start-up — Boreal Genomics — which has developed SCODA bio-molecule separation technology aimed at the research and forensics markets and raised $6.9 million in series B financing. The latest financing follows an initial round of angel funding from several sources including Marziali and Boreal board chair, Dr Tom Willis.

The POC is an expansion of the agency's pilot Technology Development Innovation Fund and has been launched with $4.35 million in joint funding from Western Economic Diversification and the province of BC, with matching funds provided by co-funders engaged with each research project.

POC will fund 30 projects over 2.5 years and then be re-assessed to determine whether it's helping move applications to end users, although the venture capital drought remains a serious concern.

The inaugural competition produced five successful projects with awards ranging in size from $200,000 to nearly $800,000. The award winners will be announced at a later date.

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