SIGNALS
NO.49
Genome BC News | Winter 2015
Contents Feature Story | Message from the President & CEO | Profile | Partners In Action | News & Announcements
RESPONDING TO EMERGING NEEDS WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
Genome BC is working hard to realize the goals of commercialization, entrepreneurship and therefore accelerate the delivery of societal and economic benefits of genome science to British Columbians. Part of that mission is accomplished by recognizing issues of high importance that require immediate attention and a timely resolution. Genome BC’s focus on emerging opportunities is not simply reactive but rather part of our increased commitment to practical translation of results into the real world.
Dr. Howard Lim and his team at the BC Cancer Agency
On January 20th at Genome BC’s 9th annual Winter Symposium a large portion of the day was dedicated to discussing emerging opportunities that Genome BC has recently invested in. From health to mining to big data, the diversity of these opportunities is vast. In the Partnerships in Action section Lauchlan Fraser elaborates on his work around the Mount Polley dam breach. Investment into emerging health issues is always at the forefront and at this year’s event two prominent areas of interest, cancer and autism, were discussed.
(Our) focus on emerging opportunities is not simply reactive but rather part of our increased commitment to practical translation.
www.genomebc.ca @GenomeBC
are developing the Personalized Onco-Genomics (POG) platform to applying genomic tools to pre-clinical models right through to standards of care for a variety of cancers. Cancer is a disease of unstable genomics and the various subtypes of cancer respond differently to therapies: POG will help to change patient outcomes by affording more precise disease understanding and treatment recommendations.
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Missed the Winter Symposium? You can view all the presentations on our YouTube channel: /GenomicsEducation
RESPONDING TO EMERGING NEEDS WITH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS Cont’d from cover
Another exciting investment made into an emerging opportunity is the iTARGET (Individual Treatments for Autism Recovery using Genetic and Environmental Targets) initiative. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), defined by significant deficits in communication, social reciprocity and behaviour, are the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and a rapidly growing public health concern. Dr. Suzanne Lewis outlined how iTARGET brings together research on genes, behaviour, brain function and microbiota, with the aim of providing early diagnosis and individualized treatments for children with Autism. This comprehensive project addresses an unmet medical approach for Autism. ASD is a multi-factorial disease not suitable to a one-size fits all approach to diagnosis or treatment. There are many different causes, traits and biological risk factors to be considered. ASD is a disease where research has shown that early diagnosis leads to much improved outcomes later in life. Ultimately, the iTARGET objective is to create much earlier diagnostics for ASD (children are rarely diagnosed under three years of age, and most between ages five and seven) in order to develop “best-fit” therapies.
Data science...is without question one of the most crucial elements of adequately addressing and solving emerging issues.
In all emerging opportunities, Genome BC knows there are two threads: the need for funding and the necessity for big data. Since the invention of the World Wide Web in 1990 the rise in data is almost unquantifiable. Data science — the art of gathering, storing, calculating and reporting — is without question one of the most crucial elements of adequately addressing and solving emerging issues. In an effort to keep momentum and help drive job creation and economic growth in an expanding bioeconomy, Genome BC has created several new programs including Proof-of-Concept, Strategic Opportunities Fund, and the Strategic Opportunity for Industry, to support small companies as they commercialize emerging opportunities. All of the activities and investment around emerging opportunities are designed to help BC become a recognized bioeconomy leader and to encourage the development of practical applications for BC’s key sectors.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
RESPONDING TO EMERGING ISSUES AND PROVIDING SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE In 2001, when Genome BC was established, the landscape of genomics looked very different. Basic research was the focus and applications, while at the forefront of thinking, were much further down the road. Fast-forward a decade and genomics played a major role in some of the most pressing health crises of that decade: SARS, H1N1, and tuberculosis. The foundational investment of large-scale applied research projects provided the capabilities to be responsive to emerging issues. And Genome BC has ensured that there is a fund available to invest into emerging issues in a timely fashion. Part of our mandate is to fund essential research quickly and therefore we must remain nimble and poised to respond when needs arrive. As outlined in the cover story and the Partnerships in Action section of this issue, the recent breach of the tailing ponds at Mount Polley mine initiated a rapid response to an emerging issue. The work being undertaken will incorporate genomics into the remediation strategy. With over a decade of investment in building capacity and the capability to discover and innovate using genomics, Genome BC is shifting its focus to userdriven projects. Genome BC invests beyond largescale applied research through a variety of programs which include the Proof-of-Concept program and
the Strategic Opportunities Fund. These programs provide key investments propelling scientific research over the final hurdle and into a space where commercialization is a viable next step. As an example, Genome BC has been working with partners on a project in response to findings of the Cohen Commission. The strategic Salmon Health Initiative intends to clarify the presence and/or absence of microbes in salmon in order to better manage wild and farmed species. Genome BC believes that with this support, existing expertise can be brought to bear quickly and effectively on urgent needs. We’re also actively promoting the uptake of genomics by end-users. The social license to operate, an essential part of public perception, can be positively impacted by genomics. At the heart of any ecosystem is genomics — all of the information is already there; we are simply decoding it. Genomics has afforded us a much clearer look at the impacts and outcomes of activity within environmental systems and provides options for more informed choices in the future.
Alan E. Winter President & CEO, Genome British Columbia
PROFILE: DR. BONNIE HENRY DEPUTY PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
PLANNING FOR THE UNKNOWN In the most recent months, Dr. Henry has been working hard to mitigate the risk of influenza; the H3N2 strain was of particular concern to BC this year, especially for our elderly population. When it comes to influenza, Dr. Henry emphasizes the common “motherhood” tips, such as hand washing, covering your cough and staying home when signs of fever are experienced. Ebola preparation has also been heavy on her agenda, since the risk of Ebola is very much alive until the problem in West Africa is completely eradicated. So far BC hasn’t experienced a case of Ebola, but Dr. Henry’s team has a plan of action if this scenario unfolds. Dr. Henry’s direct experience with Ebola in Uganda in 2001 has given her perspective on how to prepare — especially having worked under some difficult circumstances, such as a lack of access to safe drinking water and vaccines and a weak medical system.
Strong management of infectious disease is essential for population health and British Columbians are in good hands. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the newly appointed Deputy Provincial Health Officer for the Ministry of Health, is responsible for provincial oversight of the monitoring and surveillance of disease. Dr. Henry fills this new role with both national and international knowledge of infectious diseases — expertly helping to keep British Columbians healthy. Previously, Dr. Henry worked as the Medical Director of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control and Public Health Emergency Management for the BC Centre for Disease Control. Other noteworthy experience includes: her role as operation lead during the 2003 Toronto SARS outbreak; working with WHO/UNICEF on the 2000 polio eradication project in Pakistan; helping manage the 2001 Ugandan Ebola outbreak alongside WHO; and working as a public health emergency planner for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Dr. Henry notes that there are many “unknowns” when it comes to infectious disease control and it is essential to answer questions quickly from both a clinical and public perspective. Dr. Henry is no stranger to scientific advancements that can be made through genomics. For instance, during the 2003 SARS outbreak, funds were quickly made available which allowed researchers in BC to sequence the SARS genome and a vaccine was created. Dr. Henry believes that with time, genomics will become even faster and more efficient at aiding in the process of disease control, and its applications will be used regularly to track transmission patterns and the mutation of viruses. For Dr. Henry “Being able to connect the epidemiologic, lab and genomic data to effectively manage a complex and long lasting outbreak provides insight into transmission patterns that we just have not had in the past. This is a game changer for the management of infectious disease.”
PARTNERS IN ACTION:
A PARTNERSHIP FOR MOUNT POLLEY MINE
Fraser took this event as motivation to act. Knowing he couldn’t do it alone, Fraser sought out partnerships. Leveraging his relationships with Imperial Metals, the operator of Mount Polley Mine and Genome BC, the creation of a project designed to monitor the aftermath of the breach was accelerated. Fraser and Garris also joined forces with Sue Baldwin of UBC; Fraser was keen on Baldwin’s experience working on mine site clean-up — her development of anaerobic bacteria was successful at removing heavy metals from mine tailings at other sites, including an earlier pilot project at Mount Polley Mine. Since genomics would be incorporated into the remediation strategy, Lauchlan and his team were able to receive support for this project quickly through Genome BC’s emerging issues program.
Dr. Lauchlan Fraser, a community and ecosystem
ecologist and professor at Thompson Rivers University, and his post-doc student, Heath Garris, were working on a plan to treat dam-filtered water from the tailings facility at Mount Polley Mine; unfortunately, their efforts were sidetracked by the news of the August 4th, 2014 breach. Reports estimate that the dam released 24 million cubic metres of water and tailings slurry into the natural watershed, impacting Polley Lake, Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake. The media reported this event as the largest dam breach in Canadian history — causing concern among the public about the environmental implications.
The team hopes to determine if the soil and microbial community... are involved in remediation using metagenomics.
The team hopes to determine if the soil and microbial community at Mount Polley are involved in remediation using metagenomics — a process that Baldwin will lead. A detailed sampling technique will be used for extracting DNA from the sites; not only will the bacteria be tested for remediation, but the fungi in the area also has the potential of contributing to the remediation process. A bio-augmentation or bio-stimulation process will also be incorporated to enhance the remediation at the site using organic materials; manure, bio-char and wood chips could potentially be applied to reduce the contaminants. Fraser’s ideal outcome would be to identify novel gene products that are related to remediation which could be used to further understand the process of biostimulation as well as be able to link certain microbial species directly to remediation.
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Dr. Fraser at Mt. Polley
PARTNERS IN ACTION: A PARTNERSHIP FOR MOUNT POLLEY MINE Cont’d
Mining is an ongoing activity that is beneficial to the BC economy. Fraser feels that mining is inevitable and therefore, it is essential to collect data on how the natural environment reacts to a disturbance such as the Mount Polley Mine dam failure. This information could provide context to mining companies on how to enhance operations and monitoring of mining sites in an environmentally conscious fashion. This type of information could help set a standard of social license at mining sites. Making steps towards more sustainable mining would be a positive outcome of this project and partnership between TRU, UBC and Genome BC.
Fraser stresses that this project emphasizes transparency of information. On March 6th, 2015, a workshop will be held at the TRU campus at Williams Lake to discuss the plans for clean-up remediation at Mount Polley Mine. With the funding of NSERC, this meeting will bring together UBC, UNBC and TRU along with a number of mining representatives and consultants. Fraser hopes an open dialogue will occur — bringing opportunities to discuss the clean-up of the watershed, as well as the other parts of the natural environment that have been impacted — the trees, forest and surrounding animals.
...it is essential to collect data on how the natural environment reacts to a disturbance such as the Mount Polley dam breach.
Find out how genomics may be affecting you and making our world a better place. http://www.genomebc.ca/impacts/genomics-and-you/
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
GENESKOOL CLASSROOM VISITS It’s been a busy school year. Volunteers from Genome BC’s Geneskool program visited secondary schools in Fort Nelson, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Prince George, Surrey, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, North Vancouver and Vancouver in the last three months. In December 2014 seventeen full day campus workshops were hosted at Capilano University and three at UNBC. Over 1,500 students got hands-on learning experiences in a laboratory setting.
WINTER SYMPOSIUM Genome BC hosted its annual Winter Symposium at the SFU Segal Building on January 20th. This dynamic forum for the life sciences included talks from scientists and end-users in human health, forestry, agriculture, mining and big data. All sessions have been posted to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/genomicseducation
BRINGING GENOMICS HOME – EVENT RECAP •
September 22nd, Genome BC and UNBC hosted Dr. Brad Popovich’s talk “Personalized Medicine: My Life Decoded” in Prince George
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February 18th, Genome BC and Bulkley Valley Research Centre hosted Dr. Sue Baldwin’s talk “Genomics: Changing the Way We Mine” in Smithers
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February 24th, Genome BC and Quest University Canada hosted Dr. Brad Popovich’s talk “Personalized Medicine: My Life Decoded” in Squamish
Stayed tuned as these events will be uploaded to our
YouTube channel (/GenomicsEducation) soon.
KUDOS TO… Dr. Shawn D. Mansfield: Named 2014 Forest Biotechnologist of the Year by the Institute of Forest
Biosciences. Dr. Mansfield is the sixth scientist to win this award. Dr. Mansfield was nominated because of his dedication to producing world-class research, and ability to bring forest bioscience to a broad audience with humility and an open mind that encourages valuable dialogue. Dr. Steven Hallam: Awarded Leopold Leadership Fellow for 2015. Fellows are chosen for their outstanding
qualifications as researchers, demonstrated leadership ability and strong interest in sharing their knowledge beyond traditional academic audiences. Drs. Loren Rieseberg & Mel Krajden: Profiled as part of the Globe and Mail series on the next generation of
innovators. Nominated by Dr. Sarah Otto, Dr. Rieseberg was recognized for his work to solve the world’s global food-supply problem. Dr. Julio Montaner nominated Dr. Krajden for his research in treating and preventing hepatitis C. Dr. Lindsay Eltis: Named a Tier 1 Canadian Research Chair in “Microbial Catabolism and Biocatalysis”.
Dr. Eltis’ research aims to increase our understanding of bacterial pathways and enzymes involved in the catabolism of aromatic compounds and steroids. This will contribute to the development of new biocatalysts to transform biomass as well as to the development of novel therapeutics for tuberculosis.
GENOME BC BOARD MEMBER RECOGNIZED Congrats to Dr. John F.H. Thompson (Genome BC Board Member) who received a Special Tribute for his outstanding contributions to the BC mineral exploration and mining community at the 2015 Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) Awards celebration.
BOARD MEMBERS lan de la Roche
Neena L. Chappell
Alan Pelman
Chair Previously FP Innovations
University of Victoria
Ida Goodreau
BC Business Council
Past Chair Previously Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.
Vice Chair Previously Vancouver Coastal Health
Alan Winter Genome BC
Jock Finlayson Joseph Garcia Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Janet Halliwell J.E. Halliwell Associates Inc.
Victor Ling Terry Fox Research Institute
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Edward Safarik Previously Ocean Fisheries Ltd.
John Shepherd University of British Columbia
Genome British Columbia Suite 400 575 West 8th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 0C4 Tel: 604 738 8072 www.genomebc.ca info@genomebc.ca
John F.H. Thompson PetraScience Consultants Inc.
Genome BC is supported by the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada and more than 300 international public and private co-funding partners. Printed on 100% recyclable paper.