Saskatoon, SK and Winnipeg, MB – Genome Prairie is working with health researchers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to compete for research funding in Genome Canada’s latest national competition: “Genomics and Personalized Health”, announced earlier this week in Ottawa.
The $67.5 million Genome Canada competition was announced by the Honorable Leona Aglukkaq, Federal Minister of Health, and the Honorable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology at the University of Ottawa on Tuesday.
“To be successful, applicants will have to first undertake research that makes a tangible, measurable difference to healthcare. They must also consider the economic, ethical, environmental, legal and social impacts and implications of their research so as to help speed its adoption and use,” said Minister Goodyear at the announcement.
Personalized health research could result in improved treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, arthritis and many other maladies. Utilizing infrastructure and human resources in the region, national and international communities, Genome Prairie will work with provincial and industry partners to assist scientists to develop world-class proposals.
“Everyone is unique and we each respond differently to our environment, diet and medical treatments. By understanding our individuality at a genetic level, we can predict these interactions, adjust our lifestyle proactively and select appropriate treatment options. Physicians can reduce the incidence of potential adverse drug reactions and move beyond the inefficient ‘one size fits all’ approach to medical treatments,” explained Dr. Reno Pontarollo, Chief Scientific Officer at Genome Prairie.
The application process for Genome Canada’s Genomics and Personalized Health competition begins this month with select project funding to be announced in December 2012.
Contact: Carol Reynolds
Director, Communications and External Relations
Email: creynolds@genomeprairie.ca
Tel: (306) 668-3574
Cell: (306) 241-9033
Fax: (306) 668-3580
