The microbiome is a hot topic these days, embraced by research scientists and the media alike. The microbiome refers to all the microorganisms and their collective genetic material that reside in human beings and other animals, plants, soil, and water. These communities of ‘microbial flora’ have always been with us but we’re just beginning to understand the role they play in everything from human health to mining and agriculture.
We know, for example, that not all microbes are equal. Some are harmful, some benign and some essential for the health of their hosts. Microbes can boost our immune systems and our natural resources – but maintaining a healthy microbiome is a balancing act that can be thrown out of whack by factors like diet(in humans) and chemicals (in soil and water).
This issue of Sequence explores the new frontier of the microbiome. We’ll go behind the scenes with scientists on the cutting edge of human microbiome research, meet a hard-working sequencing facility that’s a hit with genetic researchers near and far, and see why microbes are the Midas touch for gold extraction, a better tool for cleaning oil spills, and the magic in making better wines.
Month: May 2018
New Brunswick becoming world leader in cannabis sector
Out of the gate, New Brunswick has positioned itself as a leader in the cannabis industry. With the legalization of recreational cannabis on the horizon in Canada, New Brunswick has identified cannabis as a major economic development driver and is putting the pieces in place to capitalize on this new opportunity.
Overseeing the cannabis file for the province is Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB), whose CEO Stephen Lund recently noted, “New Brunswick has an established ecosystem within the cannabis sector making it uniquely positioned to lead this transformational, cultural, scientific and economic opportunity. ONB continues to focus our efforts on strategic opportunities, like cannabis, that align with the unique assets of New Brunswick.”
Genomics can help. A powerful biotechnology that combines genetics, biology and computer science, genomics is helping cultivators and breeders to identify desired traits, accelerate breeding, and unlock opportunities for the development of specialized strains and medicinal products.
“Harnessing the power of genomics technologies to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada is at the heart of Genome Atlantic’s mandate. While the pursuit of opportunities in the cannabis sector is quite new to our organization, we see tremendous opportunity for these technologies to accelerate the development of both existing and new cannabis strains, reflective of customer needs and in compliance with regulatory policies,” said Steve Armstrong, President and CEO of Genome Atlantic.”
Against this backdrop, Genome Atlantic, in partnership with ONB and BioNB, hosted a panel discussion in Fredericton in early May focusing on the broad spectrum of opportunities along the cannabis value chain, including the role of genomics.
“From Crop Science to Health Research – Maximizing Opportunities for Cannabis in New Brunswick” included panelists representing major players in New Brunswick’s emerging cannabis industry. The event focused on maximizing cannabis opportunities along the entire value chain, and drew more than 70 cultivators, breeders, genetic researchers, testers and analysts, as well as senior government representatives, including Andrew Harvey, New Brunswick’s Minister of Agriculture, Mines and Rural Affairs, and several representatives from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The panel opened with Meaghan Seagrave, Executive Director of BioNB, who provided an overview of New Brunswick’s strengths and opportunities in relation to this emerging industry. Seagrave has written and spoken frequently about the opportunities for New Brunswick along the cannabis value chain. “We have the most affordable agricultural land in North America or Europe. We’ve got solid building blocks around genomics, cultivars and seeds, all the starting components for cannabis. And we have significant agricultural expertise, about 150 years’ worth,” Seagrave noted.
Seagrave suggested that cannabis presents many opportunities for New Brunswick – for example, to utilize agricultural land, build research capacity, technology companies and supply chains, attract investment in new technologies, and generate new IP and exports. “But the real opportunity is in understanding the entire cannabis value chain and maximizing growth all along the way,” she said.
Organigram Inc. is a leading licensed producer of medical marijuana based in Moncton. Organigram’s VP of International Business Development Larry Rogers described the company’s plans for growth as it expands its existing medical cannabis production and prepares for the adult recreational cannabis market. In March, the company opened a 100,000 square foot expansion to its Moncton production facility and plans to expand to nearly 500,000 square feet by April 2020.
“We believe there could be a surplus in the Canadian cannabis supply by 2020,” said Rogers, citing the European Union as one of the largest potential cannabis markets. “The EU could become the largest cannabis market in the world in the next five to ten years and it’s a priority market for Organigram.” (The week following the panel, Organigram announced a $3.8 million investment in German cannabis company Alpha-Cannabis Germany.)
Panelist Dr. David Joly, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Université de Moncton, started working on cannabis in 2015 through a collaboration with Organigram Inc. The project resulted in the identification of three candidate genes in cannabis that could protect against powdery mildew, a major disease affecting cannabis. Since then, Joly and his colleagues Drs. Martin Filion and Étienne Hébert-Chatelain at the university’s Cannabis Innovation and Research Centre have conducted research on many aspects of the cannabis plant, including growth rate and yields, often involving ongoing collaborations with Organigram and other private companies. “Basically, we are using genomic technologies to help reduce disease and boost productivity, so there is quite a spectrum of research activity in which we are engaged,” said Joly.
He highlighted two current projects, one with Organigram and one with Canutra Naturals, aimed at addressing some of the industry’s most pressing issues. “Our latest project with Organigram includes looking at ways to improve cannabis productivity through microbial inoculants and developing the genomic tools to help develop strains with improved traits. With Canutra Naturals, we’re focusing on some of the same issues but with hemp,” Joly explained.
The Research and Productivity Council of New Brunswick (RPC) is one of the largest organizations in Canada engaged in the medical marijuana testing business and provides analytical services to about half of all licensed producers in Canada. RPC has been working with the hemp industry since the late 1990s and started testing medicinal cannabis in 2014. Panelist Dr. Ben Forward, RPC’s Head of Food, Fisheries & Aquaculture Department, outlined the rapidly-expanding opportunities that cannabis is presenting for his organization including in relation to the recently-announced agreement RPC signed with Colorado-based Sunrise Genetics to begin genetic testing in Canada.
“DNA testing and analysis leads to some very important outcomes, including the ability to concretely identify cultivars to assist patients using medical cannabis to reliably access the strain that effectively treats their condition. DNA-based traceability will provide for improved product safety and the ability to authenticate shipments and batches of material to verify product origin and maintain supply integrity. Beyond that, many other R&D opportunities will arise as the industry grows,” said Forward.
- Canada’s medical cannabis producers look to this New Brunswick research lab
- Fredericton company sees boost from prescription pot
The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) was instrumental in last year’s announcement of two cannabis research chairs in New Brunswick. The chair at St. Thomas University will focus on research policy development, socio-economic and health-related issues of cannabis use, while the University of New Brunswick chair will address the pharmacology and biochemistry of cannabis and will conduct pre-clinical studies.
Final panelist Leah Carr, NBHRF’s Director of Research Programs and Human Development stressed the importance of the research chairs in strategic capacity building as well as in informing policy decisions. She also discussed the role of clinical trials in the ‘bench to bedside’ journey from ‘medical marijuana’ to pharmaceuticals, and the need for credible clinical evidence in the rapidly evolving cannabis landscape. “Canadian patients and consumers need documented, timely, and affordable access for medical cannabis. The importance of scientific research and clinical trials in relation to cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development can’t be overstated.”
Genome Atlantic’s Steve Armstrong, who emceed the panel discussion, wrapped up the session by thanking the speakers as well as ONB and BioNB for their collaboration in organizing and hosting the event. “We see tremendous potential for genomic technologies to add value to the cannabis space. That was the catalyst to initiate this session today in partnership with those leading the charge here in New Brunswick,” said Armstrong.
Genome Atlantic is part of the Innovation solution
The Conference Board of Canada’s recently released Innovation Scorecard ranks most Canadian provinces low on Business Enterprise R&D. Genome Atlantic is part of the solution. Private sector investment makes up about ¼ of our R&D portfolio. Check out the Business Enterprise Expenditure on R&D graph that is part of our Impact to Date.
Genome Canada Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Aquaculture Competition coming soon
Genome Canada’s Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition in Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Aquaculture is expected to be launched in June 2018. This highly competitive funding opportunity is aimed at supporting projects that demonstrate how genomics-based research can improve health care, contribute to a more evidence-based approach to health, and enhance the cost-effectiveness of the health care system.
Projects can range from $2-8 million over four years. Successful projects in recent competitions have most often been pan-Canadian in scope and team composition.
Even though the competition doesn’t launch until June 2018, Genome Atlantic wants to ensure researchers have the resources and guidance to prepare a competitive application. We plan to engage and support local teams by offering help with proposal development all the way through to hiring strategic consultants and expert reviewers.
In order to ensure that Genome Atlantic can provide teams with access to this support, we are asking interested researchers to fill out an early Expression of Interest form prior to May 28, 2018.
For more information about the opportunity and process and to obtain an early Expression of Interest form, please contact Andy Stone (astone@genomeatlantic.ca) or Britta Fiander (bfiander@genomeatlantic.ca).
Sequence Issue #4: 163 lives saved….and counting
Ten years ago, Newfoundland researchers cracked the genetic code of a cardiac disease that causes death in seemingly healthy young people. The disease, Type 5 ARVC, is particularly prevalent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Genome Atlantic recently caught up with researchers Drs. Terry-lynn Young and Kathy Hodgkinson to find out what’s happened since their genetic breakthrough – as it turns out, plenty. More than 500 people have been tested and 163 people fitted with life-saving defibrillators. Watch one patient’s story in the brief, compelling video:
We also checked in with Drs. Chris McMaster and Johane Robitaille on their continuing work in orphan disease discovery and therapies. Seven years ago, McMaster launched a research project called IGNITE to improve our understanding, diagnosis and treatment of orphan diseases. Multiple gene discoveries and therapies later, this remarkable research team continues to unlock the power of clinical genetics to improve the lives of people with orphan diseases.
Watch this brief video on how the Government of Canada’s recent announcement of $225 million for genomics and precision health research – including on orphan diseases – is bringing new hope for Canadian patients.
Genomics is a powerful tool for many sectors and is one of five pillars of the recently announced Atlantic Canada-based Ocean Supercluster. Genome Atlantic joined a recent Ocean Supercluster celebration in St. John’s, NL, hosted by Petroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador. Perhaps Hon. Seamus O’Regan summed it up best when he said, “We came here for the ocean’s riches. We have the expertise that can take on the world. So let’s take it on.”
Oil-eating microbes? They’re real and they may just help unlock the secret of Nova Scotia’s offshore petroleum reserves. We’ve commissioned a video to tell the story, and while it won’t wrap up for a bit, here’s a sneak peek.
Genome Atlantic is helping to “create great things from life” in Atlantic Canada’s bioscience sectors. Find out how in this Opinion Piece published in The Telegram (St. John’s, NL) and Guardian (Charlottetown, PE).
The role of genomics is expanding quickly – not just in traditional sectors but in emerging fields like synthetic biology. Ontario Genomics recently hosted Canada’s first national conference on synthetic biology which combines biology and engineering to design and construct new biological entities – or as one of the speakers put it, “Synthetic biology means engineering biology to make useful stuff.” The conference covered a lot of ground, from developing new therapeutics to reducing our climate footprint – all “useful stuff” indeed!