Our history

2001

• Jean Rochon, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, approves the Génome Québec business plan

• Five large-scale projects are launched (Competition I – Genome Canada)

• The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre, a science and technology platform, is created

2002

• The Arborea project, a global benchmark for the development of forest genomics, begins (photo: John MacKay et Jean Bousquet)

• Researchers from around the world come together to create the International HapMap Project aimed at developing a valuable resource for the discovery of disease-causing genes

• Ten large-scale projects are launched (Competition II – Genome Canada)

2003

• The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre opens its doors

2004

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  Launch of a project to develop new diagnostic tests to rapidly identify (less than one hour) microbes responsible for infections (photo: Michel G. Bergeron, Université Laval)

• Four large-scale projects are launched (Applied Genomics and Proteomics Research in Human Health Competition – Genome Canada)

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  The P3G international consortium,a public population genomics project is initiated and chaired by Tom Hudson and Bartha Maria Knoppers (photo: Tom Hudson et Bartha Maria Knoppers)

2005

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  HapMap releases the first comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variations, a historic milestone that is accelerating the pace of research into genes associated with common diseases (photo: Tom Hudson and Bartha Maria Knoppers)

• Québec researchers identify the genetic code of a highly virulent strain of C. difficile (Ken Dewar, McGill University)

• The Geee! in Genome interactive exhibition is presented at the Montréal Science Centre

2006

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  Génome Québec launches the PRIVAC competition thanks to funding by the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. The program aims to finance collaborative genomics research between private and academic partners

• A new therapeutic target for treating HIV is identified

2007

• Génome Québec and Héma-Québec announce the creation of a database with 22,000 genotyped donors to facilitate the screening of compatible blood

• HapMap publishes the second generation haplotype map of the human genome containing three times more genetic markers than the 2005 version

• CARTaGENE, a databank of biological material specific to Québec, is created

• A major international biobank is launched in the Saguenay region

• Four large-scale projects are initiated (PRIVAC Competition – Génome Québec)

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  The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre becomes the first Canadian organization to offer high throughput sequencing.

2008

• The Centre of Excellence in Personalized Medicine is founded jointly with the Montreal Heart Institute

• Researchers make a breakthrough in the area of HIV when they identify a protein that combats immunodeficiency

• Two research projects are initiated (Development of New Technologies Competition – Genome Canada)

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  The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre becomes the world’s first Sequenom centre of excellence!

2009

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  Discovery of a gene that causes resistance to insulin - a breakthrough by an international team of researchers (photo: Rob Sladek, McGill University)

• The Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade announces funding, which leads to the launch of four programs in support of genomics research in Québec

• Recruitment of participants for the CARTaGENE project begins

2010

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  Researchers discover a gene associated with a common type of migraine which affects more than six million Canadians (photo: Guy Rouleau, McGill University)

• Génome Québec celebrates its 10th anniversary

• The McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre obtains Illumina CSPro^TM certification for four applications, a Canadian first

• The CARTaGENE recruitment phase ends on a successful note, after reaching its goal of 20,000 Québec participants

• Nineteen genomics research projects are launched (Génome Québec Competitions)

2011

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  Discovery of two genetic mutations that explain the ineffectiveness of conventional treatments against a deadly form of brain cancer in children and adolescents (Photo: Nada Jabado, Université McGill)

• Mark Lathrop is appointed Scientific Director of the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre
  

2012

• New funding awarded to the the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre (2010 Competition: Science and Technology Innovation Centre Operations Support - Genome Canada)

• Launch of Génome Québec's new Website - 2.0 version

• Launch of CARTaGENE phase 2 recruitment

2013

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  Mega genomes of spruce species decoded (photo: Jean Bousquet, Université Laval)

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  A Québec scientist involved in the discovery of DNA spelling mistakes linked to breast cancer (photo: Jacques Simard, Université Laval)

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  Launch of 8 large-scale projects in personalized health care - a stellar performance - (Genomics and personalized health Competition - Genome Canada)

• The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MESRST) announces funding in support of genomics research projects in Québec

• Announcement of Génome Québec's scientific partnership with the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie

• Génome Québec and CHU Sainte-Justine announce the launch of Canada’s first integrated clinical genomic centre in pediatrics

2014

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  Genomics working for the economy and the environment. Québec wins funding for two major research projects aimed at improving the diets of pigs and poultry and optimizing the production of high-quality cheeses (Photos : Adrian Tsang, Université Concordia – Steve Labrie, Université Laval)

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  Significant breakthrough from Dr. Guy Sauvageau’ team from IRIC/Université de Montréal thanks to the laboratory growth of leukemic stem cells (photo: Dr. Guy Sauvageau, Principal Investigator and Dr. Anne Marinier, Medicinal Chemistry Director and Principal Investigator)

2015

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  Génome Québec marks its 15-year anniversary - The event was attended by representatives from the scientific community, the Government of Québec and many partners (photo: Rémi Quirion, Martin Godbout, Carlos J. Leitão, Marc LePage)

• 15 years of genomics! See this microsite developed by Génome Québec to showcase 15 years of history in genomics research.

  
  Quick look at 15 years of history!

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  Genomics working for Québec’s agrifood industry - Two team of Québec researchers received funding to fight salmonellosis and improve soybean production. These projects, focused on food safety, security and optimized food production, will have a positive impact on both the local and world population (photos: Richard Bélanger et François Belzile, Université Laval - Roger C. Levesque, Université Laval and Lawrence Goodridge, Université McGill)

• Cutting-edge genomics: Québec secures one-third of the federal envelope • A total of 4 Québec nodes out of 10 in Canada were selected (researchers and their teams: Philip Awadalla of CHU Sainte-Justine – Université de Montréal, Guillaume Bourque of McGill University, Mark Lathrop of the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre and Pierre Thibault of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of Université de Montréal)

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  Génome Québec holds a scientific café on bioremediation for a green soil decontamination (photo: Mohamed Hijri and Michel Labrecque - Université de Montréal and Michel Rochon - Radio-Canada)

2016

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  Funding of a Québec project which will allow for the development of a new test to rapidly diagnose infections (Photo: Michel G. Bergeron, Université Laval et Patrice Allibert, GenePOC)

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• Big data: Québec stands out in genomics in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology -Teams of François Major (Université de Montréal) and Thomas Duchaine (McGill University), Jesse Shapiro (Université de Montréal) and Luis Barreiro (CHU Sainte-Justine), and the team headed by Jérôme Waldispühl (McGill University) who will undertake two projects, one with Nicolas Moitessier (McGill University) and another with Olivier Tremblay-Savard (University of Manitoba).

• Two Québec projects win under the GAPP 6th cycle - The teams of Pierre Thibault of Université de Montréal with Jean-Jacques Dunyach of Thermo Fisher Scientific. The second team is led by Claude Robert of Université Laval with Brian Sullivan of the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement Inc., Marquis Roy of Olymel S.E.C./L.P. and Claude Vielfaure of HyLife Ltd.

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  Organization of the event L'ADN à l'Assemblée nationale in Québec (11 teams of researchers from 4 strategic sectors presented their project to members of the Assemblée nationale and representatives from cabinets and ministries, from all parties)

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  Announcement of results for the Genome Canada Competition Natural Resources and the Environment: Sector challenges - genomics solutions - the teams of Sébastien Sauvé (Université de Montréal) and Niladri Basu (McGill University) were particularly successful. Among co-funded teams, Québec has also emerged as a strong leader in the forestry sector, with the pan-Canadian projects spearheaded by Jean Bousquet, Richard Hamelin and Ilga Porth, all from Université Laval

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  Québec Researchers Ahead of the Curve in Disruptive Technologies - Results of the Genome Canada competition Disruptive Innovation in Genomics - the five winning Québec projects are: Santiago Costantino (Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont), David Juncker (McGill University), Éric Lécuyer (IRCM), Mark Trifiro (Hôpital général juif) and Michael Tyers (Université de Montréal)

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  Génome Québec holds a scientific café on the advances of genomic technologies (photo: Roger C. Levesque, Université Laval - Daniel Tessier, Innovation Centre and Michel Rochon, Radio-Canada) 

2017

• To promote a better understanding and support decision making regarding the complex issues raised by genetic discrimination, Génome Québec asked the Centre of Genomics and Policy to produce a Policy Brief on the subject.

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  The Génome Québec Communications team launches its new DNA Express newsletter!

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  Génome Québec receives $40 million from the Government of Québec for its genomics research activities, more specifically in personalized medicine

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  Génome Québec signs an agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem aiming to enrich their genomics research activities in the areas of precision medicine, agriculture, forestry, sustainable development, deep learning, artificial intelligence and big data.

• Major breakthrough against inflammatory bowel disease - John D. Rioux and his team at the Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, along with their colleagues from an international consortium, published in Nature the results of a study aiming to zoom in on which genetic variants were actively implicated in the disease.

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  Génome Québec holds a scientific café on genetic discrimination - (photo : Daniel Sinnett, Université de Montréal - Yann Joly, McGill University - Jean-François Cliche, Le Soleil)

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  A major study finally reveals the secrets on the genetics of breast cancer - Professor Jacques Simard, researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre in Québec City and Canada Research Chair in Oncogenetics, is one of the lead authors of this important work.

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  Researchers discover eight new epilepsy genes - Dr. Jacques Michaud (CHU Sainte-Justine) led the study with other researchers including Dr. Patrick Cossette (Université de Montréal). The study led to the identification of eight new epilepsy genes, thanks to the use of whole-genome sequencing, which had never been done before in an epileptic study of this scope.

• Génome Québec and the QNPHC announce a new collaboration with Health Education England, part of United Kingdom’s National Health Service, to develop a specialized training in genomics for health-care professionals. 

• Two Québec researchers funded to study the societal implications of genomics research - David M. Secko (Concordia University) and Michel Dorval (Université Laval), selected by a joint initiative of Genome Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

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  Pr. Adrian Tsang’s team (Concordia University), in collaboration with Elanco, receive major funding in a GAPP competition.

2018

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  A genomic test for safer prenatal screening implemented in the Québec health care system – work from the team of Dr. François Rousseau (CHU de Québec-Université Laval research centre), led to the Québec government’s decision to improve the Québec trisomy prenatal screening program by implementing second-line non-invasive genomic testing. 

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  Génome Québec launches its brand new online education platform for high school students.

• Uncovering Antibiotic Alternatives - Prof. Adrian Tsang (Concordia’s Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics), obtains funding that will allow him to characterize and produce naturally occurring enzymes that kill bacteria, called lysozymes.

• Four Québec researchers awarded funding for the excellence of their research projects within the Genomics and Precision Health competition of Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Dr. Nada Jabado (Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre) - Dr. François Rousseau (CHU de Québec-Université Laval research centre) - Dr. Guy Sauvageau (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of Université de Montréal) and Professor Jacques Simard (CHU de Québec-Université Laval research centre).

• Harnessing Genomics to Improve Human Health and the Environment - two Québec research teams awarded major funding for projects under the Genome Canada Genomic Applications Partnership Program: Dr. Paul Goodyer and his team (Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre) and Claude Robert (Animal Science Department of Université Laval), and his team,  in partnership with the ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec (MFFP).

• Québec and France united in making genomics work for Citizens and Society - Génome Québec announces the signing of an international tripartite partnership agreement with the Université Jean Monnet de Saint-Étienne – Université de Lyon and the Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (CLARA).

• Major breakthrough in the quest for cancer vaccine - The team of Dr. Claude Perreault (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at Université de Montréal) has successfully shown how a vaccine could work to fight several types of cancers.

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  Génome Québec recruits heavyweight of the Québec research community - Génome Québec announces the appointment of Serge Marchand as Vice President of Scientific Affairs.

• To promote a better understanding and support decision making regarding the complex issues raised by genetic manipulation as well as genomic data access and sharing , Génome Québec asked the Centre of Genomics and Policy and the Public Population Project in Genomics and Society to produce two Policy Briefs on the subject.

2019

• Genome Canada receives a five-year, $100.5 million commitment from the federal government.

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  Génome Québec welcomed close to one hundred participants for a unique participatory conference entitled “Ready for Genomics?”

• Breakthrough in paediatric oncology: The team of Dr. Nada Jabado has identified the first traces of childhood cerebellar tumors in utero.

• The convergence of genomics and AI. Génome Québec supports nine genomics projects selected for funding under the IVADO Fundamental Research Funding Program. 

• Québec secures $20 million in funding with two Genome Canada competitions.

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  To promote a better understanding and support decision making regarding issues of food traceability, Génome Québec asked the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science (QCBS) to produce a Policy Brief on the subject.

• Major breakthrough in Genomics and Precision Health - Nada Jabodo’s team uncover the cellular origin of aggressive pediatric brain tumors.

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  Génome Québec relocates its genomics technology platforms at the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine. Its the perfect occasion to launch the Centre expertise et de services Génome Québec new website. 

• A simple saliva test could help to gauge, with unprecedented accuracy, a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer during her lifetime - Prof. Jacques Simard’s work, co-author of two important studies on the risk of developing breast cancer.  simple saliva test could help to gauge, with unprecedented accuracy, a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer during her lifetime.

• Gouvernement du Québec invests $7.5 million to support Génome Québec’s operations, along with the funding of research platforms and the joint financing of genomics research activities.

2020

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  Launch of a video on the citizen based science project Mission ADN-eau

• To find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fonds de recherche du Québec and Génome Québec  have tasked a group of researchers with establishing the Québec COVID Biobank.

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