News & Media

Genome Prairie Launches Genome360 Initiative at Red River College

From Genome Prairie:

The funding announcement and launch of Genome360 took place today at 10:30 a.m. at Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology.

Genome360 is an initiative started by Genome Prairie and its funding partners to build a hub for genomics and phenomics capabilities in Manitoba. With a total investment of $2.3 million, the initiative aims to be a catalyst for the Prairie province’s rise to prominence in the genomics sector.

“Manitoba’s life sciences economy is diverse, and advanced genomics is poised to make significant contributions to research, communities and the lives of individual Manitobans. Genome360 looks forward to working with educators, such as Red River College, to train the skilled workforce necessary to match future opportunities in this growing field,” says Dr. Reno Pontarollo, President and CEO of Genome Prairie. 

Today’s launch includes representatives from the following funding partners: Western Economic Diversification Canada, Genome Canada, Genome Prairie, Illumina Canada, North Forge, Red River College and Pest Surveillance Initiative.

In partnership with Westward Industries, Genome360 has developed a prototype Molecular Biology Interactive Learning Enterprise (MOBILE) lab to demonstrate and offer organizations access to field-deployable devices. The electric-powered MOBILE lab provides storage, transport and sufficient workspace to bring the lab into the field or a classroom.

In partnership with Illumina, a global leader in genomic technologies, Genome360 has brought Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) equipment and associated instruments to Manitoba. In particular, the iSeq100 System is now located at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus.

“One of Red River College’s strengths is the ability to introduce and train our students on new and emerging technology. The addition of the iSeq100 will ensure that students graduating from Red River will have the knowledge, confidence, and experience to meet the needs of industry today, and into the future. As a national leader in applied research and innovation for 15 years, we rely on partnerships with industry to foster our learning environments. Today’s announcement continues to demonstrate the important role our partners play,” says Paul Vogt, Red River College’s President and CEO.

“The Genome360 initiative provides a unique combination of capacity and expertise for the wide distribution and democratization of advanced genetic technologies in the province of Manitoba and beyond. We look forward to working with the community to realize the economic and social benefits inherent in this exciting venture,” remarks Dr. Simon Potter, Chief Scientific Officer of Genome Prairie.
 
Genome Prairie, a non-profit organization with offices in Winnipeg and Saskatoon, aligns partners and resources to develop and manage genomics and related bioscience research projects addressing key regional priorities including agriculture, human health, the environment, energy and mining. These efforts play a central role in building the Prairie region’s reputation as a location of choice for innovation and commercialization.

 

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