Career Spotlight

canada’s genome scientists are looking for a few volunteers!

Some of our top genomic researchers have a message for the general public: they want your genome!

The request may sound odd, but the reasoning behind an initiative that will give Canadians an opportunity to participate in ground-breaking research is simple enough. It all ties into an exciting initiative launched last month: The Personal Genome Project Canada (PGP-C).

Spearheaded by the team of Dr. Stephen Scherer at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Kids, the PGP-C aims to sequence the genomes of 100 Canadians over the next year.

Collaborative in nature, the PGP-C is closely associated with a similar research effort: the Harvard Medical School’s Personal Genome Project (PGP-HMS). Founded in 2005, PGP-HMS currently has more than 2,100 enrolled volunteers providing genetic and health information, including more than 100 whole genomes. The hope through these projects is to sequence 100,000 individuals over the next decade.

The genetic information collected will be stored a public repository that researchers from around the world can use to understand the genetic basis for diseases such as cancer and autism. The data generated will also serve as a valuable resource for scientists working on computer software to better analyze human genome sequencing information.

Other collaborators in the project include: Toronto’s Medcan Clinic, The Centre for Applied Genomics at The Hospital for Sick Children and Life Technologies.

Volunteers who are interested in sharing their genetic and self-reported health information can do so by visiting http://www.personalgenomes.ca/.

career sPotlight

Bio-economy Career Profi le

Compiled by BioTalent Canada

Position: Director, Clinical Research Name: Monique Champagne Company: Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. Salary Range: $120,000 and up per year

What I do:

My job involves the conduct of clinical trials with drugs that are not yet available on the market to prove their safety and effi cacy and allow approval for marketing. I work with physicians and nurses who treat volunteer patients with test drugs, according to a research protocol. My main task is overseeing the conduct of clinical trials, which includes the review of patient data on a daily basis. I also oversee the preparation of clinical study documents. As a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), the average travel is about 75 per cent of the time; your main responsibility is to review patient data collected by investigators, so you must travel to the sites where investigators are located. As a project manager or program manager, your responsibility is the management of clinical studies, so travel is limited to the selection of qualifi ed investigators and is between 25 to 50 per cent of the time. As a director, travel time makes up about 10 per cent of the time.

What education and skills do candidates need for this position?

I worked my way up to this position, as I started my career as a Clinical Research Associate. This is the case for most people who work in clinical research, as training is quite specialized. A scientifi c background is preferred, minimally a Bachelor of Science Degree. Specialized training is required to conduct clinical research. Many associations offer clinical training.

What are the best parts of your job?

The most rewarding thing is the feeling that you might fi nd a drug that will cure a life-threatening disease.

For more Bio-economy Career Profi les visit www.biotalent.ca/careerprofi les-list-en

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