Media Releases >
Media Releases Archive
> SFU leads the way in Genomic research
SFU leads the way in Genomic research
Document Tools
April 16, 2002
SFU researchers and alumni lead or co-lead three of the five projects collectively allocated $16 million in the second round of funding from Genome Canada. A not-for-profit organization, Genome Canada is the federal government’s primary agency for funding genomics research nationally. In BC., the organization’s funds are distributed annually through Genome BC., one of five regional centres, which must find matching money for the projects.
This year, Genome BC. raised a matching $16 million through national and international industry sources and government agencies outside of BC. "The fact that researchers and alumni from SFU are so heavily involved in this round of funding speaks to the mentorship and influence of David Baillie," says Willie Davidson, SFU’s dean of science. "He has had a tremendous impact on Canadian genomics."
A professor of molecular biology and biochemistry (MBB) and a Canada Research Chair in genomics at SFU, Baillie leads an international project that was awarded $5.3 million by Genome Canada. Federal funding for Expression Profiles of Cells and Tissues in C. elegans hinges on the ability of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden to secure a matching $5.3 million from the Swedish government. The Karolinska Institute, a national molecular biology lab, is a key collaborator on Baillie’s project. Marco Marra, Steven Jones and Don Moerman, former SFU students of Baillie, are working with Baillie on this project. Scientists view C. elegans (round worms) as a very useful model organism for studying human genomics because of the similarity between its and the human genome. The worm also produces generations of itself quickly.
Baillie’s project is pivotal to helping scientists understand the function of 2,000 genes that are common to many species, including the human. "Previous research has shown that genes that are preserved across species are frequently the ones that cause diseases in humans when they’re mutated," says Baillie. "It’s important that we find out what these genes do in humans."
Marra and Jones, adjunct professors at SFU’s department of MBB, co-lead another project—Bioinformatics of Mammalian Gene Expression (Genome Canada grant $3.2 million). Marra co-directs the BC. Cancer Research Centre’s Genome Sciences Centre. Jones heads up bioinformatics (computational analysis of genes and proteins) at the centre, which has more than 60 scientists working for it.
"This round of funding takes genomic research to a higher level," says Jones. "Now that we’ve mapped the human genome we can begin to understand what is orchestrating this information and how it is used. Determining when and where in our bodies genes are turned on or off is key in addressing this goal." In their joint study, Marra and Jones are identifying and correlating the activity of genes common to the mouse and human genomes. Their research will help scientists develop safe, gene-based therapies for cancer and other diseases.
In another project co-led by Marra, scientists are developing an atlas of genes activated at various stages of mouse development in different types of tissues. Research indicates that a failure in gene regulation can often cause diseases, especially cancer. A Quantitative and Comprehensive Atlas of Gene Expression in Mouse Development (Genome Canada grant $5.8 million) looks at how gene development is controlled in mice. "The project will provide important insight into the disease process in humans," says Marra.
Jones and Fiona Brinkman, an assistant professor of MBB at SFU, are involved in a project funded by Genome Prairie ($13.4 million) in Saskatchewan. Brinkman is coordinating bioinformatics for this project. It studies how mucous membranes provide immunity to infectious diseases. Such diseases cause a third of all deaths on the planet and cost the livestock industry billions of dollar annually.
-- 30 --
CONTACT
David Baillie, 604.291.6590, david_baillie@sfu.ca
Steven Jones, 604.877.6083, sjones@bcgsc.ca
Fiona Brinkman, 604.291.5646, brinkman@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035
This year, Genome BC. raised a matching $16 million through national and international industry sources and government agencies outside of BC. "The fact that researchers and alumni from SFU are so heavily involved in this round of funding speaks to the mentorship and influence of David Baillie," says Willie Davidson, SFU’s dean of science. "He has had a tremendous impact on Canadian genomics."
A professor of molecular biology and biochemistry (MBB) and a Canada Research Chair in genomics at SFU, Baillie leads an international project that was awarded $5.3 million by Genome Canada. Federal funding for Expression Profiles of Cells and Tissues in C. elegans hinges on the ability of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden to secure a matching $5.3 million from the Swedish government. The Karolinska Institute, a national molecular biology lab, is a key collaborator on Baillie’s project. Marco Marra, Steven Jones and Don Moerman, former SFU students of Baillie, are working with Baillie on this project. Scientists view C. elegans (round worms) as a very useful model organism for studying human genomics because of the similarity between its and the human genome. The worm also produces generations of itself quickly.
Baillie’s project is pivotal to helping scientists understand the function of 2,000 genes that are common to many species, including the human. "Previous research has shown that genes that are preserved across species are frequently the ones that cause diseases in humans when they’re mutated," says Baillie. "It’s important that we find out what these genes do in humans."
Marra and Jones, adjunct professors at SFU’s department of MBB, co-lead another project—Bioinformatics of Mammalian Gene Expression (Genome Canada grant $3.2 million). Marra co-directs the BC. Cancer Research Centre’s Genome Sciences Centre. Jones heads up bioinformatics (computational analysis of genes and proteins) at the centre, which has more than 60 scientists working for it.
"This round of funding takes genomic research to a higher level," says Jones. "Now that we’ve mapped the human genome we can begin to understand what is orchestrating this information and how it is used. Determining when and where in our bodies genes are turned on or off is key in addressing this goal." In their joint study, Marra and Jones are identifying and correlating the activity of genes common to the mouse and human genomes. Their research will help scientists develop safe, gene-based therapies for cancer and other diseases.
In another project co-led by Marra, scientists are developing an atlas of genes activated at various stages of mouse development in different types of tissues. Research indicates that a failure in gene regulation can often cause diseases, especially cancer. A Quantitative and Comprehensive Atlas of Gene Expression in Mouse Development (Genome Canada grant $5.8 million) looks at how gene development is controlled in mice. "The project will provide important insight into the disease process in humans," says Marra.
Jones and Fiona Brinkman, an assistant professor of MBB at SFU, are involved in a project funded by Genome Prairie ($13.4 million) in Saskatchewan. Brinkman is coordinating bioinformatics for this project. It studies how mucous membranes provide immunity to infectious diseases. Such diseases cause a third of all deaths on the planet and cost the livestock industry billions of dollar annually.
-- 30 --
CONTACT
David Baillie, 604.291.6590, david_baillie@sfu.ca
Steven Jones, 604.877.6083, sjones@bcgsc.ca
Fiona Brinkman, 604.291.5646, brinkman@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035