Solutions Are in the Genes
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ANNUAL REPORT 2012 • 2013 SOLUTIONS ARE IN THE GENES www.genomequebec.com WHICH WOMEN ARE MORE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER? Development of a decision-making support tool that VISION will help extend the benefits of the current screening Genomics is a driving force critical program to those women most at risk for breast cancer. to Québec’s future. To learn more, visit genomequebec.com Jacques Simard, Université Laval and Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec TABLE OF CONTENTS CHOOSING THE BEST MEDICATION FOR EPILEPSY 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Development of a pharmacogenomic tool for the 3 more accurate diagnosis of various forms of epilepsy, MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO particularly those that are drug resistant. Improved diagnoses mean better quality of life for patients. 4 5 SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY REPORT To learn more, visit genomequebec.com ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRES 6 McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre Patrick Cossette, Centre hospitalier universitaire 7 Génome Québec and Centre hospitalier affilié de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) universitaire régional de Chicoutimi Biobank Corporate information For more information, please contact the Public Affairs 7 CARTaGENE and Communications Department at 514-398-0668 or BETTER TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES Louise Thibault by e-mail at [email protected] 8 10 ACTIVITY REPORT FROM PUBLIC AFFAIRS Head office Génome Québec AND COMMUNICATIONS 630 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, Suite 2660 Montréal, Québec H3B 1S6 Development of pharmacogenomic tests to render 514-398-0668 • Fax 514-398-0883 more effective the management of patients with 11 FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORT [email protected] cardiovascular diseases. Among their many benefits, www.genomequebec.com these decision-support tools, developed for health Auditors–KPMG LLP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS professionals, would improve treatments while 600 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite 1500 Statements of Financial Position Montréal, Québec H3A 0A3 reducing negative effects. 12 www.kpmg.ca 13 Statements of Operations Legal adviser–Me Jean Brunet To learn more, visit genomequebec.com Stein Monast, S.E.N.C.R.L • 70 Dalhousie Street, Suite 300 Québec, Québec G1K 4B2 14 15 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Jean-Claude Tardif, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal Genome Canada COMMITTEES AND EMPLOYEES 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2100, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1 www.genomecanada.ca 16 LARGE-SCALE PROJECT OUTCOMES Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, MANAGING BLOOD CANCERS de la Science et de la Technologie 1035 De La Chevrotière Street, Québec, Québec G1R 5A5 17 ASSESSMENT OF COMPLETED PROJECTS www.mesrst.gouv.qc.ca Breakthrough improvement in the effectiveness of McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre 740 Doctor Penfield Ave., Montréal, Québec H3A 1A4 immunotherapy used to treat chemo-resistant cancer 514-398-7211 • Fax 514-398-1790 by reducing sixfold the rejection rate and developing [email protected] a targeted lymphocyte transplant strategy. Génome Québec and Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional de Chicoutimi Biobank To learn more, visit genomequebec.com 305 St-Vallier Street, Chicoutimi, Québec G7H 5H6 514-398-7211 THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS [email protected] Claude Perreault, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of Université de Montréal ISBN 978-2-9811988-3-9 Legal deposit–Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Legal deposit–Library and Archives Canada, 2013 Read about the four other Genome Canada competition winners on page 5. Génome Québec Génome Québec MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO This year, more than ever, Génome Québec’s actions were destined for success. To ensure the superior performance of our researchers in Genome Canada’s new Thanks to the excellent work of Québec researchers, along with access to top-notch research Personalized Health Competition, we needed to provide them with the best possible infrastructures at the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre and support support. To do so, we decided a change in approach was warranted. This meant reaching out from academic, industry and government partners, 2012-2013 has been a phenomenal year for to clinicians, patient groups, regulatory bodies and health agencies to build ties with them and genomic research here in Québec. harmonize their respective interests and objectives, at the same time meeting the requirements My vision since taking the helm of the Génome Québec board in June 2011 has been to make of the national competition. genomics accessible to society. This year, transforming this vision into a reality meant providing Our new approach proved to be on target, since Québec-based research teams garnered 60 percent Martin Godbout, researchers with proactive support in preparing their funding requests for the Génome Canada-CIHR of the national funding available. This all-time record clearly demonstrates Québec’s leadership Marc LePage, Chairman of the board competition in personalized health by moving closer to the medical community, foundations, patient in personalized medicine. President and CEO “Our organization must groups and, ultimately, to citizens. Of course, this success would not have been possible without the backing of the Québec government. “At the beginning of the year, implement the necessary For example, we played the role of an intermediary, connecting philanthropic foundations with In these difficult, unpredictable economic times, it had the foresight and courage to lend us its unwavering the team at Génome Québec measures to make discoveries Génome Québec-funded research groups. We did this by taking part in a major fundraising campaign support, as evidenced by the $34.2 million in funding it allocated to our organization. This sum, combined identified three broad and applications accessible for the Leukodystrophies Foundation and developing a partnership with the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, with investments from the federal government and private partners, amounted to a total of close priorities. The first was to to users. Our goal is to make which will result in specific research activities in coming years. Through our involvement, genomics to $100 million, which will be used to develop personalized health care in Québec. succeed in the Genomics sure key partners grasp the is helping these organizations reach their goals of identifying and validating genes responsible for and Personalized Health McGILL UNIVERSITY AND GÉNOME QUÉBEC INNOVATION CENTRE importance and seize the genetic diseases, so that the development process of new drugs can move along more quickly. Competition launched by opportunities afforded by A few years ago, we made the informed decision to combine both the expertise and infrastructures Genome Canada and the IMPROVING ACCESS TO DISCOVERIES AND APPLICATIONS of the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre, a move that has allowed us to genomics, so it may continue Canadian Institutes of The year 2013-2014 will be critical for us, as we continue to develop our partnerships. Our pivotal boost the quality of our analytical services and reduce our costs per unit. It proved to be a wise to be a central component Health Research. The second role as facilitator and hub of the research and innovation life sciences ecosystem has been validated: decision indeed, since we are now serving over 800 research teams, both here in Québec and around of Québec’s strategic policies.” we must support researchers in securing funds, both at the national and international levels. More the world. was to secure financing and the third was to strengthen specifically, Génome Québec counts on building stronger ties with industry through the new Having the capacity to provide services to the entire scientific community has always been a priority the positioning of the McGill Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP). for us, in keeping with the principle of universal access to genomics. In our view, the Innovation Centre University and Génome It is vital to ensure that discoveries emerging from genomics are accessible to the public and that is a prized asset that broadens the international influence of genomics, of research and ultimately applications are promptly integrated into sectors where they are needed: human health, agri-food, of Québec. For this reason, it should be considered a valuable calling card to be fully leveraged in Québec Innovation Centre. the environment and forestry. The potential of genomics must be fully exploited for the benefits of the promotion of our researchers abroad. I take personal satisfaction users and the public. in the fact that it’s ‘mission OUR FOCUS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE I wish to take this opportunity to thank the members of the board, as well as the Québec and accomplished’ on all fronts. Canadian governments, for helping to make genomics one of the pillars of our economic and social The challenges that lie ahead represent amazing growth opportunities for Génome Québec, in Here are some of the development. I also extend heartfelt thanks to our President and CEO, Marc LePage, for his efforts in particular as regards the integration of genomic applications into our healthcare systems. To that end, year’s highlights.” achieving Génome Québec’s objectives this year. we will be launching a clinical genomic platform in Québec, a Canadian