Investment through Genome Prairie via its GenTrac Initiative, Genome Canada and a variety of industry and academic partners, today’s announcement will help Canadian companies use genomics and biotech innovation to grow while unlocking private sector co-investment in research and development (R&D).
March 24, 2026 – Winnipeg Manitoba, Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Genome Prairie today announced funding for three new projects aimed at developing genomics-based innovations for commercialization.
Each funded enterprise was a successful applicant via Genome Prairie’s GenTrac Initiative, launched in the autumn of 2025. GenTrac is a four-year, $4 million regional funding initiative to encourage collaborations between for-profit organizations in Manitoba or Saskatchewan and academic researchers.
The three funded organizations are White Otter Biotech, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba; OncoForma Technologies Inc., based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Tuberosum Technologies Inc, based in Broderick, Saskatchewan.
Genome Prairie will contribute $865K in matching funding via the GenTrac Initiative to established enterprises interested in developing an idea or research into a commercial application. The research activities for each project must be completed by spring 2028.
GenTrac is a component of the national Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP), which funds research and development projects that support public-private innovation. On March 18, 2026, Genome Canada, Industry Canada, and the six Canadian regional centres announced 33 new, commercially driven research and development projects representing more than $65 million in total investment. The projects announced by Genome Prairie today represent three of the 33 funded projects.
In addition to its public-private partnership mandates, GenTrac projects will deliver outcomes that advance commercialization and intellectual property, while demonstrating potential societal and economic benefits.
About The Projects:
Three for-profit organizations received funding supports to bring their ideas and innovations to market:
White Otter Biotech Project ($1.74M total project size, $300K GenTrac contribution): Designing new tools in controlled and field settings to advance how wildlife populations are monitored, strengthening Canada’s environmental monitoring capabilities while supporting more responsible resource development.
OncoForma Project ($1.09M total project size, $300K GenTrac contribution): Developing approaches to advance personalized medicine for cancer treatments, focusing on how therapies impact the growth of individual cancers. OncoForma’s innovation focuses on providing better tools for cancer treatment plans, drug discovery, and testing.
Tuberosum Project ($891K total project size, $265K GenTrac contribution): Building a genomic selection platform to help breeders develop elite small potato varieties, providing the company’s partners with access to technologies that result in greater production efficiencies and more pest and climate-resilient small potato varieties.
About the Enterprises:
White Otter Biotech: Founded in 2024 in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, White Otter Biotech combines innovative research with trusted commercial molecular laboratory services to advance non-invasive wildlife monitoring. Guided by integrity, collaboration, innovation and empathy, White Otter Biotech develops tools and workflows that empower partners, communities, and decision-makers to protect wildlife and the environment.
Tuberosum Technologies Inc. is an innovative potato research and development company and that helps bring innovative little potato genetics to the market with its partner, The Little Potato Company. In addition to its own breeding program in Canada, Tuberosum has contracted with private breeders in the Netherlands and Chile to develop new and improved genetics for emerging and innovative potato markets. Using traditional breeding methods, Tuberosum’s mandate is to help feed the world better.
OncoForma Biotechnologies: Founded in 2025 in Saskatoon, SK, Canada, OncoForma Biotechnologies is a precision oncology company dedicated to ending the guesswork in cancer treatment. By growing patient-derived tumour organoids in the lab and testing them against a comprehensive panel of over 1,800 drugs, OncoForma delivers clinician-ready therapy recommendations within weeks — giving oncologists actionable, personalized guidance for patients whose standard treatments have failed. Guided by a commitment to evidence-based care and patient outcomes, OncoForma is building the data platform that will power the next generation of AI-driven cancer treatment prediction.
Genome Prairie: Founded in 2000, Genome Prairie is a leading not-for-profit organization that provides support and management of large-scale genomics and related bioscience research projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Genome Prairie focuses on a range of industries, including agriculture, health, mining, and energy. With its partners, Genome Prairie has invested approximately $450 million in research activities in plant, animal, and human genomics, bioinformatics, instrumentation development, and bioethics.
Quotes:
“Congratulations go out to the enterprises and their partners for their successful applications for funding support in Genome Prairie’s inaugural regional commercialization initiative, GenTrac. The quality of these newly announced projects illustrates the innovative capacity of the rapidly expanding biotech sector in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the tremendous potential at hand for even more growth in the future.”
– Mike Cey, President and CEO, Genome Prairie
“We believe innovative, genomics-based solutions can support resource development by driving economic growth while maintaining strong environmental stewardship. Detecting wildlife genetic material from the air is possible because of past investments in genomics research and innovation. This project allows us to translate research into real-world impact here in Manitoba.”
– Dr. Danny Gussakovsky, Chief Scientific Officer, White Otter Biotech
“With support from Genome Prairie and in collaboration with the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), Tuberosum Technologies is transforming a small potato into a major contributor to Canadian food security and global competitiveness.”
– Joel Vander Schaaf, General Manager, Tuberosum Technologies Inc.
“For too long, cancer patients and their oncologists have had to rely on trial and error when choosing therapies. OncoForma is changing that — by growing a patient’s own tumor in the lab and testing it against hundreds of drugs, we can tell oncologists what will actually work before treatment begins. With the support of Genome Prairie and GenTrac, we’re turning a revolutionary idea into a real solution for Canadian cancer patients who are running out of options.”
– Roshan Thomas, Founder & CEO, OncoForma Biotechnologies Inc
Fast Facts:
- Genome Prairie is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba-based non-profit. Established in 2000, Genome Prairie has supported approximately $450 million in genomics-based research activities related to agriculture, the environment, and human and animal health.
- Genome Prairie represents one of six independent regional Genome Centres in Canada. This federated model optimizes investments in genomics research and innovation by aligning regional strengths and needs with national priorities—and by mobilizing industry-academic partnerships.
- The newly funded projects announced on March 24, 2026, represent just the first round of GenTrac funding. A second funding call is expected to be made later in 2026.
- GenTrac will help commercial enterprises to better secure follow-on funding from financial institutions, agencies or private investors.
- GenTrac’s lead delivery partner is Genome Canada, an independent, not-for-profit Federally-funded organization established in 2000. Since its inception, Genome Canada has invested hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide, as well as to coordinate genomics research, innovation, data and talent to generate solutions to today’s biggest challenges.
- Genome Prairie has a strong record of success in bringing investment dollars to its region. In recent years, Genome Prairie was awarded lead and co-lead for five of nine large-scale genomics projects totaling over $27 million via the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems (CSAFS) initiative.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RELEASE PLEASE CONTACT
Tony Bassett
Director of Communications
Genome Prairie
text/voice: 306.881.0255
email: tbassett@genomeprairie.ca
