Research Initiatives
The Institute organises and participates in large research initiatives with national and global impact
Examples of such initiatives are:
Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL)
PCGL launched in 2023 and spearheaded by Guillaume Bourque at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine at McGill University, is a novel undertaking aimed at devising the strategy and infrastructure for managing and sharing large-scale human genomic datasets in Canada. The PCGL builds upon established Canadian projects such as CanDIG, Quebec Genomic Data Centre, Overture, HostSeq, MOHCCN, AllforOne, Silent Genomes and others. It will also incorporate core consent elements, and adhere to international standards like FAIR, CARE, OCAP and GA4GH., The goal is to unite Canada's genome sequencing efforts, creating a hybrid PCGL architecture for efficient, scalable, and adaptable data management. The system will be accessible to approved researchers nationwide. The ingestion node, central database, and various portals and tools will utilise the SecureData4Health cloud infrastructure.
CGEn – A National Consortium for Genome Sequencing and Analysis
CGEn, established in 2014, is the federally funded national platform for genome sequencing and analysis. It boasts a workforce of over 200 individuals and primarily receives funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) via its Major Science Initiatives Fund (MSI). Additionally, CGEn leverages contributions from the provincial governments of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, as well as Genome Canada and various other stakeholders.
Operating as an integrated national platform, CGEn maintains nodes in Toronto (The Centre for Applied Genomics at The Hospital for Sick Children), Montréal, (McGill Genome Centre at the VPD Institute of Genomic Medicine at McGill University) and Vancouver, (Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre). These nodes facilitate genomic analyses that support research across a wide array of fields including health sciences, agriculture, forestry, fishery, and the environment.
National Life Sciences Data Infrastructure
The Institute orchestrates life sciences data infrastructure and associated research to empower Canadian scientists in managing and safeguarding data generated from publicly funded research, while also facilitating international collaboration. The CFI-supported SecureData4Health (SD4Health) platform Initially deployed in Quebec and Ontario, provides the essential framework to ensure compliance to security and privacy standards for the management and sharing of genomic and health data originating from Canadian hospitals and research centers. These resources will be integrated into existing Compute Canada sites, granting scientists seamless access to the technology required for maximizing the utility of their data. Additionally, this initiative will facilitate innovative data sharing methods, placing utmost importance on participant data security and privacy, while positioning Canada at the forefront of the crucial endeavor of international health data sharing.
Precision Medicine & the Aging Population
Our goal is to create a comprehensive dataset on the interplay of biological, environmental, and lifestyle factors in individuals as they age. This initiative capitalises on the VDP Institute's close involvement with the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) project which shapes national and international research agendas in genomics and big data in aging research. The LIFESPAN program integrates extensive biological datasets, tracking individuals from the CLSA for 20 or more years thus enhancing our understanding of aging within broader physical and psychosocial contexts.
This work will draw upon the Institute’s research infrastructure and related scientific expertise in genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, immunology, and quantitative methodology/computational methods. A key facet involves investigating constitutive low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), which underlies the pathogenesis of numerous age-related disorders. Metabolic and functional changes are being studied to elucidate the underlying molecular and cellular processes during inflammaging, with a focus on inflammatory mediators, dietary constituent metabolism, and diet-regulated translational or transcriptional networks in various cellular immune system networks.
By expanding the breadth and depth of biological characterization of the cohort and adhering to an open science model for broad data accessibility, in line with international policies shaped by Institute members, this project aspires to establish one of the world's foremost big data infrastructures for aging research.
Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Genomic Medicine: Genes to drug targets for next-generation therapies
The CERC (led by Vincent Mooser) is capitalising on natural variations of the human genome to support the discovery of novel therapeutics in collaboration with scientific and clinical groups at McGill. The comprehensive strategy exploits the enrichment of rare coding variants in Québec and other populations and the latest developments in genome sequencing, bioinformatics, and epidemiology spearheaded by Institute investigators. A major goal is to identify carriers of specific genetic make-ups and recruit these individuals into recall-by-genotype studies designed to anticipate the pharmacology of new therapeutics, validate new drug targets, and perform proof-of-concept trials for investigational medicines.
DNA to RNA: An Inclusive Canadian Approach to Genomic-based RNA Therapeutics (D2R)
D2R is an ambitious, initiative funded by the Canadian government through the Canadian Research Excellence Fund program, and aims to pioneer a new generation of RNA-based vaccines and therapies. In partnership with the VPD Foundation and others, D2R leverages genomics and RNA science to unlock the potential of precision genomic medicine.
The D2R program is designed to rapidly expand the medical toolkit by maximizing genomic discoveries and utilising the adaptability of RNA therapeutics to benefit all segments of the population, including marginalised and medically underserved groups. D2R vaccines and therapeutics will address unmet clinical needs across various disease areas, with a particular focus on those causing and substantial societal and economic impact. The initial focus of the program has been on infection, oncology, and rare genetic disorders because of their immense health and economic implications, and their suitability for RNA therapeutic design. Future areas of focus will include cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disorders, diseases of the immune system, stroke, dementia, mental health, and health-related conditions such as immunosenescence.
Marathon of Hope Cancer Initiative
The Institute supports the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network Initiative’s goal of establishing a nationwide network of specialised cancer centers that will expedite the adoption of Precision Medicine in cancer treatment. This network provides a powerful collaborative platform that integrates research into clinical practice. The initiative brings together clinicians with top-tier cancer researchers across Canada enabling them to exchange data and apply exciting new technologies such as artificial intelligence to deliver the best outcomes for each cancer patient in the country.
The Institute is involved in sequencing tumors from thousands of cancer patients in addition to conducting single-cell and spatial transcriptomics as well as managing the bioinformatics for the analysis of these extensive datasets.
Genetic Discrimination Observatory
This unique network of researchers and other stakeholders is dedicated to researching and preventing discrimination based on genomic and other omic data worldwide. The Genetic Discrimination Observatory serves as a comprehensive online resource that offers a collaborative platform providing access to information and tools needed to monitor and prevent genetic discrimination.