Genome Prairie logo

Latest Projects

Helicobacter pylori Genomics Project

Development and Clinical Implementation of an Omics Assay for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the main cause of peptic ulcer disease and a major risk factor for gastric cancer. Around 13 million Canadians are infected with Hp, a bacterial pathogen. Hp infections and related gastric cancers disproportionately affect Indigenous and new arrival to Canada populations.

Treatment can cure Hp infections and prevent gastric cancer. The standard treatment is complex, requiring up to four different medications, and some types of Hp are now resistant to this treatment. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing can improve Hp treatment, but it is technically demanding and not routinely done in Canada. Therefore, an effective alternative to diagnose Hp infections and identify antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is urgently needed.

This project will develop an end-to-end metagenomics-based pipeline prototype for Hp identification and AMR detection directly from clinical specimens. The team will also create a reference database for Hp AMR and develop national reports, in the form of antibiograms. Potential benefits include more rapid and accurate testing, leading to more successful treatment of Hp infections and fewer cases of gastric cancer. Data from this project will also fill current gaps in Hp monitoring, thus allowing the clinical, public health and scientific communities to better understand Hp diversity in Canada. The ultimate impact will be to reduce the social and economic burden of Hp infections on Canadians.

 

 

 

Quick Facts

  • Project Leader(s):
    • Dr. David C. Alexander
      (Cadham Provincial Laboratory)
      Dr. David C. Alexander is a scientist at the Cadham Provincial Laboratory in Winnipeg, MB, and academic lead for the Helicobacter pylori Genomics Project.
    • Dr. Aleisha Reimer
      (Public Health Agency of Canada)
      Dr. Aleisha Reimer is Head, Public Health Genomics at the Public Health Agency of Canada and is receptor co-lead for the Helicobacter pylori Genomics Project.
    • Dr. Sara Christianson
      (Public Health Agency of Canada)
      Dr. Sara Christianson is Chief of Reference Services at Public Health Agency of Canada and receptor co-lead for the Helicobacter pylori Genomics Project.
  • Genome Centre(s):

    Genome Prairie

  • Project Manager:

    TBD

  • Receptor Project Leader:

    Dr. Aleisha Reimer, Public Health Agency of Canada
    Dr. Sara Christianson, Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Project Supports:

    National Microbiology Laboratory, Cadham Provincial Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratory, McMaster University, Illumina Corp and Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.

  • Project Value:

    $1.65M

  • Funding Partners Contribution:

    National Microbiology Laboratory: $853,000
    Cadham Provincial Laboratory: $189,000
    Alberta Precision Laboratory: $73,800
    McMaster University: $52,922
    Illumina Corp: $52,885
    Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory: $33,320

  • Genome Canada Contribution:

    $400,311

  • Receptor Leader(s):

    Public Health Agency of Canada

  • Other Funding Partners:

    National Microbiology Laboratory, Cadham Provincial Laboratory

  • Project Status:

    Active (2023-26)

  • Competition:

    Genome Canada 2022 Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP)

Current Projects

2023 - 2027

GG4GHG – grassland genomics project

Learn more

2023 - 2027

Bio-inoculants and crop resiliency project

Learn more

2023 - 2027

ACTIVATing Genomics Project

Learn more

2023 - 2026

Helicobacter pylori Genomics Project

Learn more

2023 - 2026

The Ovarian Cancer Genomics Project

Learn more

2022 - 2025

BIG – Bison Integrated Genomics

Learn more

2021-2025

GENICE II

Learn more

2021-2024

CPMN – Canadian Prairie Metabolic Network

Learn more

2019 - 2025

4DWheat – Diversity, Discovery, Design and Delivery

Learn more

2019 - 2025

EVOLVES – Enhancing the Value of Lentil Variation for Ecosystem Survival

Learn more

2019 - 2025

Genomic ASSETS for Livestock

Learn more

2020 - 2023

COV3R – COVID-19 Rapid Regional Response

Learn more