Genomics
By Dr. Mark Poznansky
In the midst of the Genomics Revolution
Ontario
We are in the midst of a revolution in Genomics: a revolution that will rival the major changes that occurred with the advent of the steam engine and the automobile and the incredible changes in communications represented by information technologies.
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Reality check: Is that just fanciful thinking? Is it perhaps wishful thinking? Or is the sentiment real? Let’s start with some facts. A recent Batelle Institute report (published May 2011) stated that the Human Genome Project, which cost the American Taxpayer some $3.8 billion, has now resulted in over 300,000 jobs and a direct return on investment of almost $800 billion. Who says that you can’t make money in Biotech! There is an argument to be made that in fact we have only begun to scratch the surface of the Genomics Revolution. Coming back from the Davos World Economic Conference in 1998, then Financial Post Editor Diane Francis reporting on a presentation made by the president of Dupont, stated Biotechnology (read Genomics) will change the world as we know it: a) It will change the way we understand and treat many diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Diabetes; b) It will change the way we feed the world as we produce crops that are cheaper to grow and healthier to eat; c) It will teach us about the environment and allow us to live in a more harmonious fashion with our environment; And each of these predictions are coming to pass. The Genomics Revolution has resulted in untold discoveries pointing to the genomic and molecular basis of disease. We now have incredible insight into many of the most devastating diseases known to man including a number of different cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, and we’ve made huge strides in conquering an important number of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The future will hopefully see the realization of personalized medicine – the right medication at the right dose for the individual patient. The Genomics Revolution has already changed our food supply in ways that few of us are aware. Over 80 per cent of the world’s supply of corn, soy, canola and cotton have been genetically modified to produce strains that are pest and/or pesticide resis-
Biotechnology Focus / June 2011
tant allowing for greater yields, and therefore keeping prices down. The enzyme pathway to produce Vitamin A has been introduced into the rice genome, which is already resulting in a significant drop in infant blindness in parts of the developing world. The Genomics Revolution is now starting to address one of the earth’s most diverse and interesting life forms. Over 85 per cent of the earth’s Biomass is made up of microbes that populate and control the environment of every corner of the earth including the deepest levels of the sea. For example, it is startling to note that there are 10x more microbes in our bodies than there are human cells. It is also clear that microbes have evolved over billions of years to function as “protectors of the environment”. Much work is being done to understand Microbial Genomics and determine how we might use these microbes to help clean up the messes that we have introduced into the environment. The oil sands, pollutants from mining and from burning dirty fuels are good examples. The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) in partnership with Genome Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, works to support Ontario’s world-renowned researchers in obtaining funding critical to their work and vital to enabling discoveries that bring immense benefits. We also work to assist in the commercialization of discoveries through our business development activities, and we also work to raise general awareness of genomics research, its importance and potential through educational outreach activities and public events. Life changing research is already taking place in Ontario. Here are just a few examples: • Dr. Tom Hudson is a leading cancer researcher recognized internationally for his work on the International HapMap Project, an effort to catalogue human genetic variation. In 2006, he became the founding President and Scientific Director of the Toronto-based Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), which is dedicated to research in prevention, early detection, diagnoses and treatment of cancer. Since OICR was founded, it has launched several large-scale programs including the One Millimetre Cancer Challenge, the Cancer Stem Cell Program, the Pancreatic Cancer Genome Project, the Terry Fox Research Institute/OICR Selective Therapies Program and the High Impact Clinical Trials Program. Dr. Hudson’s laboratory at OICR is involved in the study of genome variation that affects cancer predisposition, progression, and response to therapy. His main project focuses on the genetic architecture of loci associated with risk to colorectal cancer.
