Ontario seeks global jurisdictional advantage with new $100-million genomics fund

The Ontario government is moving quickly to confront aggressive US spending on science with a $100-million genomics fund aimed at ensuring that researchers continue to use the province as their base as they engage in international collaborations. Announced in the recent Ontario Budget, the Global Leadership Round in Genomics and Life Sciences (GL2) is also intended to counter the failure of the federal government to re-fund Genome Canada which has led to a widespread perception that Ottawa is not taking appropriate steps to protect Canada's position as a globally competitive biomedical jurisdiction.

"This is a special targeted round (of the province's Ontario Research Fund) and it aspires to global leadership. We want to retain that position," says Dr John Wilkinson, minister of Research and Innovation (MRI). "New jobs come from new ideas and the whole raison d'etre for MRI … is to assist in the development of the knowledge-based economy."

The GL2 will give preference to Ontario-based researchers' participation in genomics, stem cell and proteomics research projects in health, agriculture and clean technologies. It has received enthusiastic endorsement from many of the province's top researchers, many of whom were consulted when the fund was being developed.

"The fund provides both money and psychological support. It's a bold step from the government," says Dr Tom Hudson, president and CEO of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. "It's a reaction to the US and it's also reacting to the Canadian environment. We play in a global environment and people and projects are mobile."

Just like companies on the global stage, Wilkinson says the impetus for GL2is not so much about facing national challenges but creating jurisdictional advantage when competing for research and people.

"We need to send a strong signal. This has a lot more to do with Washington than it does with Ottawa," he says. "The recent federal Budget had a reduction in tri-council funding and no new funding for Genome Canada. Contrast that to the massive science spending by the Obama administration."

Another stark contrast is the national and international drubbing Ottawa's fiscal measures for S&T received since its January 27 Budget, while Ontario rides a wave of support for its science and innovation policies. Premier Dalton McGuinty has picked up his second major award for innovation leadership, specifically the International Leadership Award from the US Biotechnology Industry Association. The award follows McGunity's receipt of the 2006 Personality of the Year Award from the UK-based Foreign Direct Investment magazine for his promotion of R&D and innovation and strategic partnerships for the provincial auto sector.

researcher support

The difference in approach has not gone unnoticed by the research community. A long list of stellar scientists attended the GL2 announcement at Queen's Park and are helping to promote it to counter the negative publicity Canada has received in recent months.

"This is not just gap filling but a step forward," says Hudson. "I've been in genomics for 20 years in the US and Canada and it rarely happens that I am supported to the extent I am here by Wilkinson and McGuinty. We have something good going on here. It's kind of unique."

Ontario is already home to four international genome consortia: Structural Genomics Consortium, International Regulome Consortium, International Bar Code of Life Project and International Cancer Genome Consortium.

GL2 hopes to build on that by focusing on large-scale research initiatives, preferably with an international dimension. Each proposal should have a plan for youth outreach and mentoring. Projects must be led by a university, college, not-for-profit research institute or a consortia with an institution as the lead applicant. The fund will cover direct costs, indirect costs and one-third of operating costs with the balance coming from institutional or industry sources. The deadline for letters of intent is June 15, with full proposals due August 31.

"We consulted extensively with our top researchers (and) the community came to a quick consensus on this special funding," says Wilkinson. "We would never allow politics to interfere with science."

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