In an effort to make its mark on the Human Genome Project, Genome Canada is pushing an initiative to drive research north of the border.

Incorporated in February 2000, the Ottawa-based organization is a not-for-profit corporation designed to develop a national strategy in genomics research to benefit Canada, which did not play an official role in mapping the human genome due to government funding cuts.

"There were a lot of people who thought that was a missed opportunity," said Anie Perrault, Genome Canada's vice president of communications. "But there was another opportunity to come, following the mapping of the human genome - functional genomics and proteomics. This emerging science was an opportunity for Canada to get back as a player in that field."

Genome Canada received much of its money from the Canadian government, with which it signed a C$300 million (US$192 million) funding agreement in 2000. Genome Canada is required to obtain an additional C$320 million from other sources by 2004, at which time the government will decide on renewal. To date, Genome Canada has raised C$180 million in funding from outside sources.

The organization's founders pitched their cause to the government, stressing that while genomics plays a major role in human health, it also crosses sectors, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other environmental arenas.

"Those are strategic sectors we should invest in because they are already economically important in Canada," Perrault said. "Genome Canada has under its wing the responsibility for genomics research crossing all sectors."

Genome Canada funds up to 50 percent of the large-scale research projects and science and technology platforms it approves. Genome Canada's five research centers across the country - Genome Atlantic, in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Genome Quebec, in Montreal; Ontario Genomics Institute, in Toronto; Genome Prairie, in Calgary, Alberta; and Genome British Columbia, in Vancouver - will work with partners representing governments, the private sector and research foundations in pushing Canada's initiative to become a leader in genomics research.

To seek funds, outside organizations, including commercial companies, governments, research and educational institutions and foundations, first approach the appropriate research center in which they are located. The organization has since meted out C$291.5 million to 56 projects, undertakings worth C$584 million, when factoring in outside funding.

In April 2001, Genome Canada made its first investment of C$136 million to support 17 large-scale research projects and five science and technology platforms.

In July, Genome Canada began a second national competition, called Competition II, aimed at funding several large-scale genomics research projects and their related science and technology platforms. Results for Competition II were announced during the first week of April - C$155.5 million was invested in 34 projects.

"The projects were chosen by an international peer review panel on which no Canadian scientist was sitting," Perrault said. "We're allowing Canadian scientists to do large-scale genomics projects in Canada instead of outside."

Recent collaborations point to Genome Canada's initiatives.

Genome Canada and the Genome Spain Foundation in Madrid, entered a three-year agreement to promote scientific and industrial cooperation between Spain and Canada in genomics research. The Spanish organization is modeled on Genome Canada, which also has two projects with the Swedish government. (See BioWorld Today, May 9, 2002.)

Affinium Pharmaceuticals, of Toronto, said Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics Institute awarded it a US$7 million grant for a program in viral proteomics.

Elitra Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said its Montreal-based division received a three-year, C$5.7 million grant from Genome Canada and Genome Quebec related to its functional genomics efforts in Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus.

The Quebec government adds further funding to projects tabbed by Genome Canada, chipping in 25 percent of funding on top of Genome Canada's 50 percent obligation.

"Other [provincial] governments are coming around, and there is further matching coming," Perrault said.