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Message from the President
Message from the Scientific Director
Profile of the Institute
Outstanding Researchers in Innovative Environments
Effective Partnerships and Public Engagement
Appendices
The CIHR Institute of Genetics (IG) is leading a national research agenda in the area of genetics, basic biochemistry and cell biology related to human health and disease, including the interaction of genes with physical and social environments. It is also strongly committed to supporting research on the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic discoveries.
The challenging and complex process that takes research to its ultimate integration into clinical practice requires the active participation and collaboration of many research disciplines and partners. To facilitate this process, IG supports research that extends from fundamental research to its clinical application. In particular, the Institute's Genomic Medicine and Human Development Request for Application, a program that will capitalize on Canadian strengths in developmental genetics and clinical research. This initiative is the first of a series of funding opportunities falling under the umbrella of "From Genes to Genomic Medicine", designed to address the increasing need to translate scientific advances into medical practice.
The IG recognizes that new fields of health research are continually emerging. Investigators working in these nascent, leading-edge fields will require support to develop their programs and bring the significance of their work to the attention of other disciplines. The rapidly expanding science of bioinformatics, for example, has a central role in integrating the massive amount of new information flowing from the genome project into more established fields. The Institute supports this community through Training Program Grants. Research in mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering is also of increasing relevance to biology and medicine, and, through New Emerging Team grants, the IG is bringing these research communities together.
I am extremely pleased by the commitment that the IG has made to support excellent research, in particular through its suite of Regular Funding Programs. These nine programs are open to all researchers working within the Institute's mandate, and range from One-Year Bridging Operating Grants to the Maud Menten New Principal Investigators Prizes.
As the following pages show, the activities of the IG reflect a balanced effort of support for both scientific excellence and for strategic research that addresses important national health issues. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional leadership of the Scientific Director, Dr. Roderick McInnes and the outstanding work of the members of the IG's Advisory Board and staff.
Alan Bernstein, OC, FRSC
President
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
As Scientific Director of the Institute of Genetics (IG), it continues to be a great pleasure to work with the talented Canadian health research community. Under the outstanding Chairship of Dr. Joel Weiner (University of Alberta) and Vice-Chairship of Dr. François Rousseau (Université Laval), the IG's Institute Advisory Board (IAB) has shown great leadership and judgement in advising me on the directions of the Institute should take. I would like to express particular gratitude to the more than 90 members of the 12 Priority and Planning (P&P) Committees and Voluntary Health Organization (VHO) working group that advise the Institute about their areas of research. These P&P Committees provide enlightened guidance to the IAB on the approaches we should use to support individual investigators and to fulfill the strategic mandate of the Institute.
Over the past year, we have continued to make funds available to individual investigators through grants and awards offered in our Regular Funding Program. There has been one major addition to the Program: the Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prizes. These prizes were developed to honour New Principal Investigators, working within the IG's mandate, whose grants ranked highest in the CIHR Operating Grant competition. Named after a Canadian who was the co-discoverer of one of the most famous equations in biochemistry (the Michaelis-Menton equation), a $30,000 prize will be awarded in each of the following categories: biomedical research, clinical research, and health services/population health research, including genetic, legal and social issues.
In addition to its Regular Funding Program, the IG has funded or posted several large Strategic Requests for Applications (RFAs) that fall under one or more of our six Research Priority Themes. It is our hope that these strategic RFAs, outlined below, will have an important impact on Canadian health research over the next 5-10 years.
A major goal of the IG since its inception has been to develop a strong community of investigators to examine the impact of genetic discoveries on health policy and services. The Addressing Health Care and Health Policy Challenges of New Genetic Opportunities Operating Grant RFA provides operating funds ($1.89 million over three years) to two Canadian research teams who will address some of the major issues in health services related to genetic disease. The importance of this topic is highlighted by the fact that the IG received support for this RFA from the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health, the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
A major investment by the IG in the "Integrating the Physical and Applied Sciences into Health Research" Theme has been to co-lead the Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine initiative with the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. This initiative supports research in a wide range of basic/applied sciences and its application to the restoration of health, including not only nanomedicine but also stem cell research and gene therapy. For the RFA launched under this initiative in 2004, the IG committed $1.25 million over 5 years. This reflects the importance we attach to this theme, which brings together basic scientists, such as chemists, physicists and engineers. A third RFA will be launched in June 2005.
It is the intent to use the From Genes to Genomic Medicine as a major IG "umbrella theme", under which we will launch RFAs that will foster the application of new genetic knowledge to medicine. The first RFA in this series, Genomic Medicine and Human Development, was launched in December 2004. The goal of the RFA is to bring together developmental biologists and clinical researchers, to allow them to elucidate the genetic component of human developmental diseases, such as malformations of the heart. To date, more than $14 million has been committed to this RFA which will support grants as large as $500,000 per annum for a term of 5 years. Our funding partners include The Foundation Fighting Blindness - Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and five CIHR Institutes.
In addition to funding RFAs, the IG also supports the research community by sponsoring important national meetings. Co-sponsored with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), the 3rd Annual New Principal Investigator (PI) Meeting was regarded as outstanding by the more than 100 new PIs and the eight research leaders who attended this meeting. The 4th International Conference of the Canadian Proteomics Initiative (CPI), was co-sponsored by the IG and ICR. More than 350 researchers attended this meeting, which is becoming an obligatory highlight of the Canadian biochemistry research year. Finally, more than 250 investigators were present at the 2nd Biennial Canadian Developmental Biology Symposium, organized and sponsored by the IG.
In conclusion, I am delighted to acknowledge that I have been blessed with a remarkable staff who invariably give me thoughtful advice and who skillfully manage the programs of the Institute. These staff are: the Assistant Directors Milka Popov (Toronto) and Stephanie Robertson (Ottawa), the Executive Assistant and Project Manager, Jennifer Jennings, the Administrative Assistant, Esther Berzunza and the Project Officer, Amanda Devost. Their enthusiasm and their commitment continue to make my job a pleasure.
Sincerely,
Roderick R McInnes, MD, PhD, FRSC
Scientific Director
Institute of Genetics, CIHR
Established in December 2000, the Institute of Genetics (IG) is one of the 13 Institutes of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The IG is based at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the home institution of its Scientific Director, Dr. Roderick R. McInnes.
Our Mandate is to support research on the human and other genomes and on all aspects of genetics, basic biochemistry and basic cell biology related to health and disease, including the translation of knowledge into health policy and practice and the societal implications of genetic discoveries.
The leadership of the IG is shared among the Institute Advisory Board (IAB), 12 IG Priority and Planning (P&P) Committees and a Voluntary Health Organizations Working Group, whose areas of focus, together, embrace the IG mandate.
Our Institute Advisory Board (IAB) is composed of 15 research leaders with exceptional qualifications, from Canada and abroad, under the guidance of the Chair, Dr. Joel Weiner, and the Vice-Chair, Dr. François Rousseau (Appendix 1). IAB members provide invaluable assistance and advice in the development and implementation of the IG's research priority-setting process. In addition to participating actively on P&P committees, IAB members meet at least twice a year to review the management of the IG budgets and to discuss the activities carried out under the IG's research priorities.
Our Priority and Planning Committees (P&P) are led, or co-led, by distinguished Canadian researchers with expertise and a strong commitment to advancing research in their specific areas, along with five to eight additional members. The P&P Committees (Appendix 2) foster the development of their research communities; provide a forum for the identification of critical issues and opportunities; facilitate continuous input from and with the research community; and make recommendations to the IAB. Through this process, more than 90 leading researchers and committed stakeholders regularly inform and advance the IG's genetic, basic biochemical and cell biology research agenda.
Figure 1 illustrates the 12 Priority & Planning Committees and the Voluntary Health Organization Working Group. The blue circles indicate P&P Committees that support the IG Research Priority Themes. The white circles indicate P&P Committees that support the IG Enabling Strategies. Through these committees the leadership of the IG is distributed throughout the community.
The IG defined its strategic directions through a consultative process involving researchers, academics, clinicians, policy makers, voluntary health organizations, government, companies and other stakeholders with an interest in the mandate of the IG. As a result, the IG has been well recognized as a "bottom-up organization", by responding to the needs of individual investigators and ensuring that its strategic goals and research priorities are defined by the research community and other stakeholders.
A Strategic Planning Retreat, held in September 2002 (Aylmer, Quebec), led to the refinement of the IG's research priority themes and strategic goals. A copy of the Strategic Plan (2004-2009) is available on the IG website (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca).
Our Strategic Goals, as outlined in the Strategic Plan, are to:
IG staff are responsible for the implementation of the Strategic Plan under the guidance of the Scientific Director and the Institute Advisory Board. The Strategic Plan and the six Research Priority Themes will be re-evaluated on a regular basis, to best reflect changing research needs and emerging priorities.
Knowledge TranslationThe IG recognizes the enormous disparity between extant and expanding knowledge in genetics and the biomedical sciences, and the highly imperfect level of awareness of this knowledge and its applications. In response, the IG has made a major commitment to supporting the translation of new knowledge into health benefits for the Canadian public. All six IG Research Priority Themes directly facilitate knowledge translation by enabling the active exchange between the creators and users of knowledge to accelerate its capture into the next generation of health policy, medical practices and biotechnology products. |
The IG is committed to measuring and reporting on the effectiveness and impact of all programs and activities undertaken by the Institute. Most notably, the IG participated in the development of the design for the Institute Performance Reports. The Institute Performance Reports are being used as a key piece of evidence for the evaluation of the Institute, and as a 'report card' for future Institute Advisory Board meetings to assess on-going performance. The IG Performance Report contains 15 common indicators, adopted for all Institutes, and one indicator unique to the IG - i.e., reporting on the IG's support for investigator-initiated research. During this reporting period, the IG Performance Report (2000-04) was compiled and submitted to CIHR.
The IG's funding mechanisms include both a suite of Regular Funding Programs and Strategic Requests for Applications (RFAs).
Our Nine Regular Funding Programs have a continuous launch cycle, and are a constant feature in the IG research funding landscape. Subject to an annual review by the Institute Advisory Board, these programs are designed to facilitate training and/or research within the IG's mandate:
Awards:
Awards Grants:
Our Strategic Request for Applications (RFAs) are aligned with our Research Priority Themes. Examples of strategic RFAs funded during the reporting period include:
CIHR is funded entirely through federal government appropriations. The CIHR Governing Council delegates financial authority to each Institute for managing a portion of these funds, as described below:
Institute Support Grant. Each Institute receives $1 million annually to operate and to support the research communities that it represents, through an array of collaborative activities, such as workshops and national meetings (Table 1).
Strategic Initiatives Budget. These funds comprise the great majority of the Institute funds, and are used to support strategic research initiatives through peer reviewed grants and research personnel awards (Table 2).
During the reporting period, the IG launched and/or funded seven Strategic Requests for Applications (RFAs) designed to facilitate research within the IG's Research Priority Themes:
Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine RFAs: Team Grants and New Discoveries: High-Risk, High-Benefit Grants. Regenerative medicine and nanomedicine have the potential to improve the health of Canadians and change the way our health care system protects, maintains and restores health. Through this initiative - co-led by the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction and the IG - CIHR and its partners are helping to support the growth of a critical mass of talent that will take the next steps forward in these new and exciting areas of research. For the February 2004 New Emerging Team competition deadline, the IG allocated $2.5 million over five years in support of six teams. For the second RFA launched under the umbrella of this initiative (June 2004), the IG has allocated $1.25 million over a five year term in support of Team Grants. Results of this competition will be available in November 2005. Planning is underway for the third RFA, anticipated to be launched in June 2005.
Dr. William Stanford and his team from the University of Toronto are studying the behaviour of stem cells at the molecular level by use of sophisticated nanotechnologies such as microfabrication, quantum dots, and scanning probe microscopies. This novel research may have important implications towards the advancing stem cell-based therapies in the future.
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| BRUNETTE, Isabelle Université de Montréal |
Femtosecond laser assisted corneal posterior lamellar transplantation with endothelial enhancement: Technological development and socioeconomic impact |
| CHAN, Warren University of Toronto |
Quantum dot-based biomolecular imaging |
| DAAR, Abdallah University of Toronto |
Regenerative medicine: Ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social issues network |
| DE KONINCK, Yves Centre de recherche Université Laval |
Nanotools for neuropharmacology |
| FEHLINGS, Michael University of Toronto |
Regenerative medicine strategies for spinal cord injury repair: Integration of stem cell biology, nanotechnology, bioengineering approaches and neurosurgical application |
| STANFORD, William University of Toronto |
Stem cell fate analysis and manipulation |
Population Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology of Complex Diseases RPA. Complex diseases are multifactorial in nature and result from the combined effects of variation at multiple genetic loci and environmental influences manifested over the life course. The elucidation of interactions between an individual's genetic endowment and the complex sequence of environmental exposures that occur over the life-course - physical, chemical, biological, developmental and social - are expected to provide the greatest insight into our understanding of the etiology of human disease. In December 2003, the IG and the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) issued a Research Priority Announcement (RPA) to provide support for investigators in this developing area of research through jointly funded operating grants. The RPA process enables Institutes to fund highly rated applications responsive to their priorities submitted to the CIHR open competitions. One grant from the December 2003 competition was supported in the amount of $427K over three years by the IG and IPPH.
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| PATERSON, Andrew Hospital for Sick Children |
Genetics of type 1 diabetes in Newfoundland |
Genomic Medicine and Human Development RFA. Important advances have been made with respect to our understanding of the genetic factors governing normal and abnormal developmental processes, but the impact on medical practice to date has been limited. Launched in December 2004, the purpose of this RFA is to provide operating grants in support of projects that bridge clinical investigation and more basic scientific research to address an important problem in human development. In partnership with The Foundation Fighting Blindness - Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health, the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health, the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health and the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, more than $14 million dollars - over a term of five years - has been secured for this RFA. Results of this competition will be available in the fall of 2005.
Addressing Health Care and Health Policy Challenges of New Genetic Opportunities RFA. The purpose of this program is to provide operating grant funds in support of research projects, the results of which will better equip health care providers, administrators and policy makers to improve the health of populations and strengthen the health care system in Canada. In partnership with the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health, the Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, two Canadian research teams will share $1.89 million over three years. These teams will examine how health care providers, administrators and policy makers can improve the health of Canadians and strengthen the Canadian health care system through improved integration and use of information about the genetic causes of disease.
The Canadian Consortium on Genetic Laboratory Services. Drs. Michel Labrecque, François Rousseau, Jean-Claude Forest, Yves Giguère (four of the Consortium's 17 Principal Investigators) and Dr. Marc Charland (Scientific Coordinator).
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| ESPLEN, Mary Jane University Health Network CAPPELLI, Mario University Health Network |
Addressing the psychosocial health care of patients and families obtaining genetic services: Identification, disposition and outcome |
| ROUSSEAU, François Université Laval (Nominated PI) |
Health care and health policy challenges in genetic laboratory service |
Facing our Future: Human Genetics, Ethics, Law and Society RFA. The objectives of this program are to: (i) address ethical, legal and social issues relevant to the design and conduct of population-based genetic epidemiological research, including implications for future studies in Canada; and (ii) build research capacity in this field by providing an opportunity for new investigators to develop and demonstrate their independence in initiating and conducting health research. For the May 2004 competition, five research projects were supported - for a total of $248K for a term of one year - by the IG and the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health. This program was relaunched in December 2005.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Fiona Miller is considering the implications of the molecular re-definition of disease, including the examination of the social, ethical and health system implications. Fiona Miller,
Catherine Ahern, Bob Christensen and Sonya de Laat.
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| AVARD, Denise Université de Montréal |
Pharmacogenomics with children: Towards a healthier future |
| BRUNGER, Fern Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Protecting communities in population-based genetic research: A cultural analysis of a Canadian policy dilemma |
| FOSKET, Jennifer McGill University |
Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease in Canada and the US: A comparative study of meanings of risk, aging and normalcy |
| GODARD, Beatrice Université de Montréal |
Consulting cultural communities for large-scale genomic databases: An analysis of interests and values |
| MILLER, Fiona McMaster University |
Re-defining disease: Mapping the contours of genomic medicine |
The Suite of Regular IG Grant Programs has a continuous launch cycle. These programs are a constant feature of the IG funding landscape. Subject to an annual review by the Institute Advisory Board, these grant programs are designed to facilitate research within the IG's mandate.
Objective: To provide one-year operating funds (up to $100K) to support highly rated CIHR operating grant applications that just missed the cut-off for funding; i.e., affording Principal Investigators the opportunity to resubmit their research proposal without the loss of momentum, staff or trainees
Competitions: March 2004 and September 2004
IG financial commitment: $1.12 million over one year (for both competitions specified above)
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| AYERS, Paul McMaster University |
Predicting the products and mechanisms of enzymatic reactions: Development, implementation, and application of a novel computational approach |
| BUREAU, Alexandre Université Laval |
Study designs and statistical methods for the detection of disease-associated polymorphisms and estimation of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions |
| DAVIDSON, Alan University of Toronto |
Structural, biophysical, and genetic studies on bacteriophage morphogenesis |
| GENDRON, Robert Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Tubedown-1 in blood vessel health and disease |
| HU, Jim Hospital for Sick Children |
Role of epithelium-specific ets-like transcription factors in airway gene regulation |
| ROBERTS, Robert University of Ottawa Heart Institute |
Treatment and mechanisms of sudden death in heart failure |
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| BOISSONNEAULT, Guylain Université de Sherbrooke |
Transient DNA strand breaks in spermatids |
| DOBSON, Melanie Dalhousie University |
A yeast system for analysis of intracellular trafficking defects in niemann-pick C disease |
| DROUIN, Régen Université de Sherbrooke |
Formation and repair of NNK-induced DNA damage |
| DUNN, Sandra BC's Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health |
Phosphorylation of YB-1 by akt enhances the malignant potential of breast cancer cells by altering the expression of genes involved in drug resistance |
| HAUGHN, George University of British Columbia |
TILLING in C. elegans: An alternative reverse genetic approach for genome analysis in worms |
| KING, William University of Guelph |
Telomere length and chromosome stability in domestic animal clones and their offspring |
| MCBURNEY, Michael Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre |
Sir2 alpha: A nuclear modulator of growth factor signaling |
Objective: To enable the development of tools, techniques and devices facilitating health research and the diagnosis or treatment of patients
IG financial commitment: $1.20 million over three years
Partners: CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| DE KONINCK, Yves Université Laval |
Novel microprobes for combined optical and electrical recording in vivo |
| EMILI, Andrew University of Toronto |
Bioinformatic tools for proteomic profiling and biomarker discovery resistance mutations in Escherichia coli |
| MCCONKEY, Brenda University of Waterloo |
In silico cell cycle modeling: A new approach integrating mathematics of dynamical systems, proteome analysis and molecular genetics techniques |
| YIP, Christopher University of Toronto |
Integrated functional imaging tools for membrane protein structure-function determination |
Objective: To encourage researchers to undertake high-risk, high-benefit research
IG financial commitment: $357K over two years
Partners: CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| JEFFERIES, Wilfred University of British Columbia |
Delivery of therapeutic proteins across the blood-brain barrier |
| PROVOST, Patrick Université Laval |
Elucidation of a key step in the RNA interference pathway |
| SATTAR, Syed University of Ottawa |
Environmental stressors as modulators of bacterial mutation rates in drinking water distribution systems: A preliminary investigation on antibiotic resistance mutations in Escherichia coli |
Objective: To provide partial support for workshops and scientific symposia held in Canada
Competition: Applications are accepted throughout the year (Appendix 3)
IG financial commitment: $124K
Objective: To enable developing or established researchers to spend up to three months in a specific training environment, focusing on the acquisition of new concepts, knowledge and/or techniques to broaden their research perspectives and skills
Competitions: February 2004, June 2004 and October 2004
IG financial commitment: $123K over a term of one year (for all competitions specified above)
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| CHHABRA, Neetu University of Toronto |
CARS microscopy |
| EVERITT, Rebecca University of Calgary |
Analysis, management, and dissemination of sequences from mouse embryonic stem cells |
| FAINMAN, Joshua McGill University |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| GRANT, Jason University of British Columbia |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| GROS-LOUIS, Francois McGill University |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| KIM, Taeho University of Calgary i |
Energetic and structural implications for protein-protein and ligand-receptor nteractions: Molecular dynamics studies of insulin |
| LEE, Chow University of Northern British Columbia |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| NEIRA, Mauricio University of British Columbia |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| PELLEGRINI, Luca Université Laval |
A comparative-genomic approach to predict new systems of regulated intramembrane proteolysis |
| SWANSON, Magdalena University of Calgary |
Bioinformatic analysis and functional characterization of novel transcription factors isolated via ES cell neural differentiation |
| TARAILO, Maja University of British Columbia |
Interactors of mdf-1, spindle assembly checkpoint in Caenorhabditis elegans |
| VERLAAN, Dominique McGill University |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| WOODS, Michael Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| ARBOUR, Laura University of British Columbia |
Laboratory and statistical analysis of complex traits |
| CLEARY, John Douglas Hospital for Sick Children |
Dynamic molecular combing, DNA replication and repeat instability |
| DARLINGTON, Gerarda University of Guelph |
Genetic analysis workshop 14 and IGES meeting |
| HOWARD, Heidi University of British Columbia |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| HSIAO, William Simon Fraser University |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| SWANSON, Magdalena University of Calgary |
Bioinformatic analysis and functional characterization of novel transcription factors isolated via ES cell neural differentiation |
| TAYYARI, Farnoosh University of British Columbia |
Use of applied proteomics for discovery of cell surface receptors to viruses |
| Principal Investigator(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|
| CHANG, Michael University of Toronto |
DNA combing: Analyzing DNA replication fork progression in genome integrity mutants |
|
DIMARAS, Helen |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
| LIANG, Binhua University of Manitoba |
Canadian bioinformatics workshop |
Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prizes. This program is designed to recognize and support the research excellence of New Principal Investigators working within the IG's mandate. The Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prizes consist of a one-year, non-renewable $30,000 operating grant in each of the three following research areas: (i) biomedical; (ii) clinical; and (iii) health services/population health rersearch including genetic ethical, legal and social issues. The New Principal Investigator with the highest rated CIHR Operating Grant application in each research area will be the recipient of one of the three prizes. Results of the 2005 prizes will be available in the fall of 2005.
Building researcher capacity is a key goal for the IG. In 2004-05, the IG launched and/or funded six strategic RFAs designed to facilitate training and career development within the IG's Research Priority Themes.
Population Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology of Complex Diseases Doctoral Research Award and Fellowship RFAs. To increase research capacity in this area, the IG and CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) issued a Research Priority Annoucement (RPA) to fund Doctoral Research Awards and Fellowships from the fall 2003 and spring 2004 CIHR competitions. From these competitions, the IG and IPPH have committed a total of $467K over three years in support of two Doctoral Research Awards and three Fellowships. This initiative was relaunched in June 2004 to fund Fellowships from the fall 2004 CIHR competition. Results of this competition will be available in the spring of 2005.
| Awardees | Project Title |
|---|---|
| BOURGEOIS, Stephane Hôpital Sainte-Justine |
Genetic structure of amerindian populations |
| XU, Wei University of Toronto |
New adaptive methods for genetic linkage analysis of multivariate phenotypic data of human complex disease |
| Awardees | Project Title |
|---|---|
| DALEY, Denise University of British Columbia |
Investigation of epistasis and genetic susceptibility to hypertension in men and women |
| GAGNON, Cynthia Université Laval |
Functional and social consequences of myotonic dystrophy: Impact of personal and environmental factors on social participation |
| Awardees | Project Title |
|---|---|
| BIRCA-PODUBNAIA, Ala Hôpital Sainte-Justine | Relationship between electroclinical phenotypes and the genotype of children experiencing febrile seizures |
Clinical Genetics Research Strategic Training Program Grant RFA. This program was designed to increase the number of clinical genetics investigators in Canada, by providing specialized clinical genetics research training opportunities. A total of two applications were received to the May 1, 2004 deadline, but unfortunately no applications were approved for funding. In consultation with the research community, discussions are underway to determine when this program will be relaunched and whether programmatic modifications are required.
Biochemical Genetics Fellowship RFA. Representing a joint effort between Genzyme Canada, the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists, CIHR and IG, the goal of this program is to build Canadian capacity and expertise in the area of biochemical genetics. Results of the April 2005 competition will be available in the summer of 2005.
Genetics and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Doctoral Research Award RPA. The overarching objective of this initiative is to support trainees whose research addresses ethical, legal and social issues relevant to the design, conduct and dissemination of genomic and genetic research. In June 2004, the IG and the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health launched a Research Priority Announcement (RPA) to build capacity in this area of investigation. Results of this competition will be available in the spring of 2005.
Health Research Partnership FundThe Health Research Partnership Fund is CIHR's primary vehicle for fostering partnerships with small not-for-profit agencies to support training awards. For the fall 2003 program announcement, the Canadian Fanconi Anemia Research Fund and the Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada targeted areas of health research within the IG's mandate. In the spring of 2004, a total of two Fellowships were announced from the fall 2003 competition. |
The Suite of Regular IG Award Programs is a constant feature of the IG funding landscape. These programs are designed to facilitate training and career development within the IG's mandate.
Objective: To provide two years (renewable once) of protected research time for clinical genetics investigators to pursue clinical or translational research
IG financial commitment: $720K over two years
| Awardees | Project Title |
|---|---|
| ARBOUR, Laura University of British Columbia |
The genetic and environmental bases of select complex diseases in aboriginal populations |
| GIBSON, William Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics (BC) |
Central and peripheral regulation of stearoyl CoA desaturase-1 activity |
| RAJCAN-SEPAROVIC, Evica University of British Columbia |
Detection of novel microdeletions and microduplications in persons with intellectual disability using whole genome microarrays |
Dr. Evica Rajcan-Separovic is using whole genome micorrays to study children with congenital intellectual disability. Since receiving the IG Clinical Investigatorship Award, Evica has gone on to receive two CIHR Operating Grants to continue her research on early identification of subtle chromosomal abnormalities for improving health outcomes of individuals with developmental disorders.
Objective: To support the career transition of faculty members who are planning to undertake rigorous training outside their primary research training and expertiseb
IG financial commitment: $80K over one year
| Awardee | Project Title |
|---|---|
| CANTY, Angelo Hospital for Sick Children |
Statistical analysis of multifactorial disease: Functional genomic strategies to identify genetic variants conferring risk for type 1 diabetes |
Objective: To support students enrolled in Canadian MD/PhD training programs
IG financial commitment: $528K over six years
Partners: Canadian Gene Cure Foundation and the Canadian Genetics Diseases Network
| Awardees | Project Title |
|---|---|
| CARTER, Jodi University of Alberta |
Role of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in axon growth and repair |
| CHOWDHURY, Jeeshan University of Alberta |
Development of microfluidic devices for analysis of gene polymorphisms for pharmacogenetics |
| MERANI, Shaheed University of Alberta |
Strategies in tolerance induction in experimental islet transplantation |
| WALDKIRCHER DE OLIVEIRA, Roberta McMaster University | Identification of genes promoting glioma invasion using novel genetic screening assay |
Jeeshan Chowdhury (University of Alberta), a Walter and Jessie Boyd and Charles Scriver MD/PhD Studentship awardee, has been focusing his research on the utilizing microfluidics technology to develop clinical pharmacogenetic tests on a handheld system. Such technologies would make individualized therapies a reality.
The IG is committed to sponsoring and facilitating, on a continuous basis, the following conferences and meetings designed to support research, knowledge translation, networking and collaboration.
Annual New Principal Investigators (PI) Meeting. Designed, sponsored and organized by the IG, the overall goal of the annual New PI meeting is to facilitate the career development of new faculty members (i.e., in their first four years) at a Canadian university, including new scientists and clinician scientists in the genetics and biochemistry, developmental biology, bioinformatics, cell biology, health policy and ethics communities.
The meeting fosters the formation of peer networks between the New PIs working in these areas of research. In addition, a significant portion of the meeting is devoted to mentoring, through formal presentations by "star" senior investigators and through informal interactions between these research leaders and New PIs. New PIs are counselled on grant and paper writing, running a laboratory, managing budgets, and managing trainees and staff.
The 3rd Annual New PI meeting took place on November 12-14, 2004 (Jackson's Point, Ontario) in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research. This cancer research-themed meeting was attended by more than 100 outstanding new researchers. Planning is currently underway for the fourth annual meeting in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (November 4-6, 2005, Jackson's Point, Ontario).
Annual International Conference of the Canadian Proteomics Initiative (CPI). The CPI is a national effort to build on Canada's growing strengths in the field of proteomics and protein chemistry. The international conference provides a general forum for disseminating the latest developments in proteomics and protein chemistry to Canadian researchers. The IG sponsored and participated at the 4th International Conference held on May 14-16, 2004 in Montreal, Quebec. More than 350 researchers - with expertise in all areas of proteomics, including functional proteomics, structural proteomics, protein display, protein expression, protein chemistry and protein interaction - participated at this event. Planning is underway for the 5th International Conference scheduled for May 13-14, 2005 in Toronto, Ontario.
Biennial Canadian Developmental Biology Symposium. More than 250 researchers attended the 2nd Biennial Canadian Developmental Biology Symposium held on April 1- 4, 2004 in Banff, Alberta. This symposium included sessions focused on the mechanisms of patterning, organogenesis, neuronal determination and synaptogenesis, stem cells and molecular mechanisms of human disease. Planning is underway for the 3rd Biennial Canadian Developmental Biology Symposium on April 6-7, 2006 in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
Genomics, Genetics and Society: Bridging the Disciplinary Divides Workshop
The IG sponsored and hosted the "Genomics, Genetics and Society: Bridging the Disciplinary Divides" Workshop held on
April 15-17, 2004, in Toronto, Ontario. This workshop was designed to foster an exchange of knowledge and perspectives among basic scientists, clinicians, social scientists and bioethicists whose research is involved with one or more aspects of genomics and genetics. A series of papers, developed as a result of this workshop, will be published in Community Genetics. The IG will be featured in the publication.
Guidebook for New Principal InvestigatorsAuthored by Drs. Roderick McInnes, Brenda Andrews and Richard Rachubinski, this guidebook is directed to all researchers (new and experienced). It provides tips on:
This guidebook is available on the IG website: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca |
Canadian Multigenerational Birth Cohort (CMBC). The CMBC, as a component of the Canadian Lifelong Health Initiative, is intended to facilitate the establishment of a research program to conduct large multi-centred longitudinal cohort studies of Canadians. The IG has continued to foster the development of the CMBC with the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health and the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health. This also includes a contribution to the analysis of cohort-related Genetic, Ethical, Legal and Social (GELS) issues, in partnership with the CIHR Ethics Office. During the period under review, CMBC planning meetings, with international representation, included the Genetics Interest Groups Meeting (November 1, 2004, Toronto, Ontario) and the Genetics First Scientific Advisory Committee (November 2, 2004, Toronto, Ontario).
International Regulome Consortium (IRC). The overarching goal of the IRC is to utilize the tools of proteomics and genomics to characterize the protein components of transcriptional complexes containing all potential transcription factors, and to identify and validate the complete set of their binding sites and corresponding target genes. The project team is a Canadian-led international research effort involving 37 investigators in 17 institutions in six countries. The IG and CIHR co-funded an application submitted to the CIHR International Opportunity Program in support of this effort, in the amount of $200K for a term of one year.
Canadian Mouse Consortium (CMC). The goals of the consortium are to integrate the strengths of mouse research technologies in Canada to enable Canadian-led research programs that rely on mouse genetics, and to lead and participate in international efforts to establish a publicly available mutant mouse resource. The IG supported the workshop designed to establish the consortium held on September 9, 2004 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The IG Voluntary Health Organizations (VHOs) Working Group's mandate is to cultivate
a full partnership between VHOs and the IG. The VHO Working Group will influence the development of the IG as an integrative health research institute, and promote public engagement among the stakeholders in the work of CIHR.
During the reporting period, planning was underway for the Genetics Research Partnership Roundtable, scheduled for October 6 - 7, 2005 in Toronto, Ontario. The primary objective of this roundtable is to determine how VHOs interested in funding research in genetic diseases can create collaborations within CIHR around the funding of a strategic research initiatives that demonstrate relevance to donors and families impacted by genetic diseases.
The International Collaborations in Human Genetics Priority & Planning Committee's mandate is to identify areas of research that are synergistic between Canada and other countries, and that will lead to meaningful research collaborations. This is a joint committee with the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network. An example of a key activity during this reporting period was the Italian/Canadian International Collaborations in Genetics Workshop held on October 25, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario.
Be a gene researcher for a week - the Rt. Hon. Ramon Hnatyshyn Youth in Science Initiative.
The 2004 spring break program was sponsored by the IG in partnership with the Canadian Genetics Diseases Network. This program placed 30 high school students (grades 11 and 12) in the research laboratories of Canada's top genetic scientists. Students worked side-by-side with researchers, graduate students and technicians to plan and carry out experiments. Arrangements are underway for the 2005 spring break program.
The Geee! In Genome. This travelling museum exhibit is an innovative, multi-dimensional public education project developed by the Canadian Museum of Nature in partnership with Genome Canada and CIHR. During the period under review, the IG supported the Public Forum on Genomics at the Ontario Sciences Centre in Toronto, in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity and the Ontario Genomics Institute.
American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Scientific MeetingVisibility at the American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Scientific Meeting (October 26-30, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario) included:
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The IG Strategic Plan provides a framework to advance the mandate of the Institute. It has been designed to provide a clear vision and sufficient direction for its highly dispersed and independent research community, while being flexible enough to respond effectively to the many opportunities and challenges that may present themselves to the IG. The IG is committed to the continual advancement of the goals outlined in this plan, including an unwavering support for independent investigators, as evidenced by the activities referenced throughout this report.
For the upcoming year, the IG is proud of the following 2005-06 planned activities that highlight our balanced efforts to support scientific excellence while encouraging emerging areas of investigation.
| For the year ended March 31, 2005 | ||
| Available Funds | $1,029,772 | |
| Expenses | ||
Institute Development |
||
| Conference, symposia and workshops | $ 176,300 | |
| Institute Advisory Board | 61,715 | |
| Professional services | 3,860 | |
| Travel expenditures | 1,530 | |
| Other costs | 77,012 | $ 320,417 |
Institute Operations |
||
| Salaries and benefits | $ 418,506 | |
| Office accomodations | 12,099 | |
| Telephone and communication services | 10,063 | |
| Supplies, material and other services | 7,854 | |
| Computer equipment and IT support | 12,866 | |
| Professional services | 700 | |
| Travel expenditures | 44,734 | |
| Other expenditures | 3,116 | $ 509,938 |
| Total Expenses | $ 830,355 | |
| Unspent Balance* | $ 199,417 | |
* Note: The unspent balance as of March 31, 2005 is carried forward to the subsequent fiscal year.
| For the year ended March 31, 2005 | ||||||
|
Contributions through Grants and Awards | ||||||
| Strategic initiatives | Number | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007 and beyond* | Total |
| Addressing Health Care and Health Policy Challenges of New Genetic Opportunities | 2 | 143,360 | 352,785 | 357,969 | 200,705 | 1,054,819 |
| Career Transition Awards | 1 | 41,250 | 13,750 | - | - | 55,000 |
| Clinical Investigatorship Awards | 5 | 300,000 | 360,000 | 180,000 | - | 840,000 |
| Compelling Values: Privacy Access to Data and Health Research Grants | 2 | 65,672 | 9,381 | - | - | 75,053 |
| Doctoral Research Awards and Fellowships | 16 | 282,294 | 238,750 | 104,667 | 21,042 | 646,753 |
| Facing our Future: Human Genetics, Ethics, Law and Society Grants | 5 | 118,014 | - | - | - | 118,014 |
| Interdiciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) Teams | 2 | 107,753 | 230,614 | 230,496 | 180,556 | 749,419 |
| International Opportunity Program | 1 | - | 100,000 | - | - | 100,000 |
| Invention and Technology Application Grants: Tools, Techniques and Devices for Research and Medicine | 8 | 627,572 | 570,179 | 235,370 | - | 1,433,121 |
| Knowledge Translation Grants | 3 | 63,926 | 8,334 | - | - | 72,260 |
| NET: Gene-Environment and Obesity | 1 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100,000 |
| NET: Genomics and Aging | 1 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 100,000 |
| NET: Integration of Fundamental Bioengineering into Health Research | 1 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 1,200,000 |
| NET: Integration of Mathematics, Statistics and Biophysics into Health Research | 1 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 1,200,000 |
| New Discoveries: High-Risk, High-Benefit Grants | 7 | 353,959 | 147,814 | - | - | 501,773 |
| Novel Population Genetics and Genetic Epidemiological Methods for Studies of Complex Diseases | 4 | 144,353 | 128,608 | 30,710 | - | 303,671 |
| One-Year Bridging Operating Grants | 36 | 2,194,773 | 370,329 | - | - | 2,565,102 |
| Population Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology of Complex Diseases: Operating Grants | 1 | 35,596 | 71,189 | 71,189 | 35,595 | 213,569 |
| Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine | 6 | 250,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 1,250,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Short-Term Research Visit Grants | 23 | 119,486 | - | - | - | 119,486 |
| Strategic Training Program Grants | 14 | 950,850 | 1,692,867 | 1,675,616 | 1,751,069 | 6,070,402 |
| Walter and Jessie Boyd and Charles Scriver MD/PhD Studentship Awards | 12 | 110,501 | 138,209 | 118,250 | 235,376 | 602,336 |
| 152 | $6,559,359 | $5,582,809 | $4,154,267 | $4,324,343 | $20,620,777 | |
* Note: Grants and awards in respect to these programs are approved for 1 to 6 years. Figures displayed represent financial commitments for these programs in 2004-05 and subsequent years. Availability of these funds in future years are subject to funding appropriations by Parliament.
