2007 annual report 1 April 06 - 31 March 07 the future is in our genes.

Chairman’s Message 02

President’s Message 04

OGI’s Mission 06

Research Programs Genetic Basis of Human Health 08

Biomarkers 12

Infectious Diseases and Promoting Global Health 14

Biodiversity, the Environment and Looking Ahead 16

Research Programs 18

Business Development Investments 20

Science - Industry Workshops 22

Outreach Public Outreach and Next Generation Innovators 24

Reaching Out Through The Arts 26

Workshops and Talks 28

Operations Board of Directors and Staff 29

Financial Snapshot 30

Financial Statements (inserted into flap at back)

Copyright 2007 Ontario Genomics Institute

2007 annual report • 01 Chairman’s Message

As Chair of the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI), I am teomics research and to the growing cadre of internation- proud to report that the past year was for OGI a very posi- ally-recognized scientific researchers in this province whose tive reflection of our goal of augmenting -- through our knowledge and technical prowess are driving leading-edge focus on the genomics sector -- Ontario’s role as a pre- genomics research that will, in the long run, benefit all eminent centre in the life sciences industry. Now entering Canadians and help sustain and improve us economically. its seventh year, OGI continues to realize the benefits of sound strategic thinking, a clear direction, broad and fruit- Other partnerships have also been crucial. As always, the ful strategic partnerships, excellent recruitment and the partnerships with the various universities, research hospitals strong support of its major stakeholders. and other life science research institutions in Ontario (and beyond) has been of paramount importance. During this The commitment and support we are receiving from past year, 23 institutions from Ontario, six other provinces, Genome Canada and Ontario’s Ministry of Research and and 19 countries other than Canada were engaged as Innovation (MRI) provide the foundation of our present research collaborators on OGI-funded projects. and future success. Their collaborative and individual efforts have demonstrated their dedication to genomics and pro- In addition to funding from Genome Canada and Ontario’s

02 The commitment and support we are receiving from Genome Canada and Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) provide the foundation of our present and future success.

MRI, co-funding (direct or in kind) for OGI-funded projects organize a workshop exploring the use of biomarkers in came from 106 other research institutions, philanthropic clinical trial design – CHI’s first-ever meeting hosted in foundations, public funding sources and commercial life Canada. The workshop attracted almost 100 participants science entities. Seventy-eight of these funding sources from 27 biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies from came from outside Ontario, including other provinces and Canada, France, Germany, Israel and the USA; more than 12 other countries. half the participants were from outside Canada, and had the opportunity, either to hear talks by several OGI-funded We have also had many day-to-day interactions and sev- speakers on the agenda, or to meet Ontario scientists at the eral focused collaborations with the various components of workshop-associated networking events. the Ontario Commercialization Network, including MaRS and the Research Innovation Network. Our partnership I want to thank Christian Burks, President and CEO, as well with the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics as OGI’s staff for their hard work in building and deepen- on topics related to the social impact of genomics research ing OGI’s role in the life sciences sector. I would also like to practice and outcomes continues to be very fruitful as well. thank OGI’s Board of Directors, and especially to express my deep appreciation to Joseph Rotman, who has retired We have continued to identify and cultivate strategic op- from the Board. He was instrumental as part of a core portunities and priorities that will help Ontario grow in the group of directors guiding OGI during its infancy and he knowledge-based innovation economy. Over the past year, helped lay the groundwork for OGI’s success. I would also five new start-up life science companies have grown out of like to thank Cheryl Reicin, who departed from the Board, OGI-funded projects. Previously established companies that for the perspective she brought from her practice at Tory’s. we have assisted are being acknowledged on the global stage. For example, Amorfix Life Sciences – in which we At the same time, I wish to welcome to the Board Elizabeth invested seed commercialization funds in FY2006 -- raised Dowdeswell, (Visiting Professor in Public Health Sciences, $20 million in new private and public funds for advanc- McLaughlin-Rotman Center for Global Health); Jay Lefton ing the extension of their technology to permit diagnosis (Partner, Ogilvy Renault); Bonnie Schmidt (President, Let’s of several neurodegenerative diseases. It was also the Talk Science); Tim McTiernan (Executive Director of Inno- only Canadian company among 47 companies worldwide vations and Assistant Vice-President, Research, University recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic of Toronto); and ex officio member, Alastair Glass (Deputy Forum in Davos earlier this year. Minister, Ontario MRI).

We’ve also continued to partner with the commercial sector I look forward to another rewarding year and am encour- in sponsoring meetings that explore the interface between aged by the continued success I foresee in OGI’s future and the fruits of research and the marketplace. For example, the impact of large-scale genomics projects on Ontario’s life GE Healthcare and OGI organized and hosted a workshop sciences sector. at MaRS that explored the use of molecular imaging in tracking biomarkers in a science-industry workshop and were delighted to have participation of 24 companies involved in commercializing those technologies. OGI also partnered with Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI) to J. Mark Lievonen Chairman

2007 annual report • 03 President’s Message

I am pleased to present the FY2007 Annual Report of the unidentified species). OGI-funded projects also contributed Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI). more than 55,000 depositions to major public data banks, including the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and newer data This is my third annual report at OGI, and it provides a banks tracking emerging data sets such as The Database of superb vantage point from which to appreciate the consid- Genomic Variation. erable momentum built up by the genomics and proteom- ics sector in Ontario, and by OGI in its primary mission of The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG), the Genome providing leadership in building a globally-competitive life Canada and OGI-funded genomics service platform, con- sciences industry in Ontario by creating leverageable ge- tinues to expand its user base and access to leading-edge nomics and proteomics resources with leading-edge science. and enabling technologies. For example, OGI partnered Ontario scientists and their international partners lead the world in the exciting arena of genomics and proteomics. Their research has implications not only for basic science, but also for areas as diverse as diabetes, autism, malaria, cancer, the environment & understanding our role in a global context. On the research programs front, we worked with Ontario’s with Ingenuity Systems to provide access to their systems Ministry of Research and Innovation to secure funding for biology software and pathway data through TCAG; and $24M targeted for Ontario-led projects, including $15M TCAG became highest volume generator in Canada of for the second phase of the Structural Genomics Consor- gene expression data sets using Affymetrix gene chips. tium (SGC) and $8.7M for six projects funded under Ge- Over the past year, more than 430 laboratories used nome Canada’s Competition III. OGI managed 18 projects TCAG’s services. This included 15% of Canadian users and platforms in the course of the past year, with total outside Ontario and 7% international users. multi-year budgets across active projects of almost $300M. To date, our portfolio includes nearly $500M worth of We have also advanced our effort -- through business projects, including both new and now completed projects. development and outreach -- to accelerate the social and economic impact of the leverageable resources gener- Ontario scientists and their international partners lead the ated by the projects we fund. Our Chair, Mark Lievonen, world in the exciting arena of genomics and proteomics. describes in his message examples of the kinds of partner- Their research has implications not only for basic science, ships that have been developed that are providing greater but also for areas as diverse as diabetes, autism, malaria, resources for research and collaboration. They demonstrate cancer, the environment and understanding our role in a a growing commitment from the private and public sectors global context. Our project portfolio published 128 papers, in this area and a better understanding of how life sciences many of which appeared in top-tier science journals, and can positively impact our country and the economy. including several discoveries appearing in Science and Na- ture that generated international excitement in, for exam- The results of our outreach activities show a greater un- ple, the areas of autism (new genes, mutations in which could derstanding and appreciation of the research being con- be responsible for genetic predisposition to autism), cancer ducted as well. OGI staff have made more than 40 external stem cells (and the potential for much more specifically presentations and organized and hosted five public forums targeted therapies for some cancers) and species bar- across Ontario, focusing on issues as diverse as autism, coding (and the identification of a number of previously nutrigenomics, genetic testing and bioethics.

04 We are also using the arts and creative media to reach a broader audience. We extended our partnership with Shaftesbury Films with OGI’s web-based Facts Behind the Fiction, an episode-by-episode companion to their television science drama, ReGenesis. This partnership was featured in Shaftesbury’s The Making of ReGenesis mini- documentary and was discussed – as part of the third season launch gala in Ontario’s MaRS Centre—by a panel of actors, filmmakers, writers and scientists.

OGI’s goals are crystallizing. We are continuing in our role to help build a globally competitive life sciences industry in Ontario. I would like to thank our Board, particularly our Chair, as well as our partners and stakeholders for helping make this possible. This year we continued to augment our existing talented team at OGI, recruiting two new scientists to the Research Program management group as well as with the pivotal hiring of two new directors. Den- nis McCormac, with more than twenty years’ research and marketing experience in the U.S. and Canada, joined OGI as Director, Platform Development. Marianne Fedunkiw brings television and print media experience as well as aca- demic credentials to the position of Director, Outreach and Communications.

In closing, I would like to thank our entire staff for their support and hard work throughout the past year and look forward to continuing to increase the profile and productiv- ity of OGI.

Christian Burks President & CEO

2007 annual report • 05 OGI’s Mission: To provide leadership for Ontario in helping to build a globally-competitive life sciences sector by creating leverageable genomics resources with top-notch research.

06 Andrew Macpherson, McMaster University Cheryl Arrowsmith, University of Toronto

Genomics is a discipline that aims to decipher and understand the entire genetic information content of an organism. OGI supports a broad specturm of genomics and proteomics research projects, associated technology development and social impact studies. In FY2007 OGI was actively fund- ing 17 projects. This research portfolio has ap- plications to and potential benefits for fields as diverse as human health, the environment, natural resources and agriculture.

OGI-supported projects are led by some of Ontario’s leading genomics researchers -- true scientific visionaries. In fact all of the medical award winners in the 2007 Premier’s Catalyst awards were OGI-funded investigators.

The following pages profile some examples of their outstanding work. Turn to pages 18 and 19 for a complete list of research projects.

Shawn Li, University of Western Ontario 2007 annual report • 07 Genetic Basis of Human Disease

Human disease has an enormous impact on Canada’s public welfare due to human suffering, time lost from productive activity and increased health care cost. For example, the total cost of illness, disability and death due to chronic diseases in Canada has been estimated at more than $80-billion annually.

Recognizing that disease prevention and treatment rest on strong research, OGI has taken advantage of the fact that Ontario has one of the strongest biomedical research communities in the world and, since 2000 has supported 21 projects in health-related areas, with a total budget of more than $315 million. Most of these studies are aimed at discovering genes and mechanisms that underlie human disease, including various cancers, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and heart disease, and which provide the portal into developing the next generation of molecular diagnostics and therapeutics. Human disease is the failure of normal body processes. Effec- Research from the Human Genome Project makes clear that tive diagnosis and successful treatment of disease rely on a the way things work in the cell and between cells is the result full understanding of how the normal human body works and of a bewildering web of physical and functional interactions what goes wrong when illness strikes. Biomedical researchers among thousands of molecules. This complicates drug-dis- aim to understand the body’s functions at the deepest-pos- covery because we now understand that the “target” of sible level—the molecules of life. OGI supports investigators any drug is not restricted to the individual protein, or other who strive to find which molecules are responsible for guiding molecular target, that binds the drug and interferes with its particular body processes, how these molecules function, how function; rather, interacting molecules are often responsible their shape enables their function, how the molecules interact for the effects, good or bad, of a drug. with one another and with natural and foreign chemicals, and where they dwell and move about in the cell. The OGI-funded Dynactome project (see sidebar, page 11), led by Tony Pawson, Jeff Wrana and Shawn Li, is mapping protein interactions in human cells in order to determine whether diseases such as malignant cancers result from changes in entire cellular networks as well as individual pro- teins. A particularly interesting class of proteins is the kinases, enzymes that are central to many signalling networks in the cell, and which are important drug-development targets for cancers. Work in the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) (see sidebar, page 11) meshes closely with the Dynactome project. SGC, an international public-private partnership was established to determine and make freely available the struc- tures of proteins, including kinases relevant to human disease.

The Human Genome Project provided a stepping stone into the study of the genomes of some 400 other organisms. Comparative genomic research has taught us that life’s basic molecular processes are very similar from the smallest single- celled organism, for example ordinary baker’s yeast, up to more complex animals such as fruit-flies, mice and humans. OGI-funded researchers make use of this by studying simple organisms, which are inexpensive and reproduce quickly, as stand-ins for human beings, thus speeding up the discovery process.

Brenda Andrews, Charlie Boone, Jack Greenblatt are part of the Integrative Biology project. This work is based on the idea that genes perform their functions in assemblies or systems. In turn, these gene assemblies work with each other to allow the cell to function and respond to its environment. Using the sophisticated genetic and biochemical information that only a simple organism can provide, these researchers will develop an integrated view of ordinary baker’s yeast – a leading model organism, which has conserved many of the same genes and pathways as humans. Philippe Poussier, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

08 The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG)

OGI’s genomics platform, The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG) at the Hospital for Sick Children, expanded the number of users of its DNA sequencing, genotyping, gene expression, cytogenomics and biostatistic services in Since 2000, OGI FY2007, and has become the highest volume generator in Canada of gene expression data sets using Affymetrix chips. has supported 21 Over the past year, a total of 430 different laboratories have used TCAG, in addition to work on Genome Canada projects impacting projects, with a current average of about 60 new users per quarter. Users are from Ontario (78%), the rest of Canada human health (15%), and international users (7%). University- and hospital-based researchers make up 95% of TCAG’s clients, with the remainder split between government laboratories with a total and the private sector. investment of more The platform continues to explore new technologies that could create a competitive advantage for Canadian scien- than $315 million. tists, including, for example, a new partnership established in FY2007 with Ingenuity Systems that has led to the intro- duction of leading-edge systems biology software tools for pathway analysis by ten groups in Ontario.

Molecular systems, protein interactions, and related ideas, yielding a richness of molecular and cellular information as described above, are also being used by OGI-funded scientists in studies related directly to human disease. Cynthia Guidos leads a project team that focuses on understanding the rare cancer stem cells that can re-initiate tumour growth and thus function as the “roots” of the tumour. This team includes experts in leukemia, breast cancer, brain tumours, and can- cer stem cells. Their project is studying human tumours and mouse cancer models in order to address two crucial issues: what genetic alterations distinguish very aggressive tumours from more benign tumours, and what genetic and biological malfunctions lead to the development of cancer stem cells. John Dick, one of the team members (see sidebar, page 12), has recently made spectacular progress in discovering human cancer-colon stem cells.

Before OGI-funded researchers can initiate proteomic and systems studies, they must first identify the genes whose products are implicated in disease. In an organism whose genome is as large and complex as humans, this is no easy task. It requires a virtuoso display of all the power and sophistication of modern genomics, and is made all the more difficult by the fact that many of the most important diseases involve several or even many genes. OGI scientists are world leaders in teasing apart the human genome to yield its multi-gene secrets.

Andrew Patterson and Jayne Danska, The Hospital for Sick Children

2007 annual report • 09 Genetic Basis of Human Disease

Michael Rudnicki, Ottawa Health Research Institute

Michael Rudnicki and his colleagues in the International OGI scientists are among the world leaders in assembling Regulome Consortium (IRC) are studying mammalian stem molecular networks and explaining how they work. They cells. The IRC represents the next step in genomics research are expert in applying these ideas to important diseases. —the discovery of how gene function is regulated in mamma- The consequence of this is an accelerating application to lian cells during development. To do this, Rudnicki’s group will drug discovery. For example, the SGC has three active map the transcriptional-regulatory nodes and networks (the pharmaceutical partners, and Peter Liu’s project on ‘regulome’) that control the function and lineage determina- biomarkers for heart disease (see page 12) collaborates tion of embryonic and adult stem cells. with Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Stephen Scherer is project leader of the Autism Genome Project, bringing together many of the leading scientists in Canadian autism research, and linking to many investiga- The Autism Genome tors around the world. In a notable recent report, this group screened the genomes from more than 6000 members of Project screened 1600 families to find where susceptibility genes reside on the chromosomes. Advanced genomic methods will be used to assess the DNA in these chromosome regions in order the genomes from to identify disease-associated genes. Peter Durie and Julian Zielenski are interested in cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the first more than 6000 disease genes to be cloned. Although CF is due to mutation in one single gene, its severity is modified by other mutations in members of 1600 other, as yet unknown, genes. The CF group is canvassing the human genome to identify some of these other genes. Jane Danska and her colleagues aim to understand the root causes families to find where of Type 1 diabetes susceptibility. They will identify genes that contribute to the disease and the biological pathways that susceptibility genes these genes control. Research with rodent models of Type 1 diabetes have identified genetic regions involved in the early reside on the stages of Type 1 diabetes; these are likely to be similar in humans and will point to candidate genes for study in humans with Type 1 diabetes. chromosomes.

10 Protein Kinases: The Molecular Internet

Millions of signals ceaselessly zing around inside the cell through a bewilderingly complex molecular network. Many of these signaling pathways involve cascades of phosphorylated proteins—an external signal causes addition of a phosphate group to a surface receptor-protein, in turn enabling phosphorylation of its next downstream partner, and so on, along the chain until its last member enters the nucleus to direct specific gene transcription.

Tony Pawson discovered the importance of protein phosphorylation more than 25 years ago. He also demonstrated the essential role of tyrosine kinases, a group of enzymes that attaches phosphate groups to specific tyrosine sites of proteins in the signal cascade, and described a group of signals on proteins of the signaling pathway that recognize the phosphorylated state of tyrosine residues, allowing these proteins to localize to tyrosine-phosphorylated sites. These discoveries are the basis for developing new drugs that block the action of tyrosine kinases and halt the proliferation of some types of cancer cells. Pawson’s contributions are well-recognized internationally, and include The Horwitz Prize (USA), The Gairdner International Award (Canada) and The Order of the Companions of Honour (UK).

The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an international initiative with laboratories in Toronto, Oxford and Stockholm, led by Aled Edwards, takes a different approach to the study of protein kinases. The role of the SGC is to determine the detailed structure of hundreds of proteins of potential importance for the understanding and treatment of disease. These include more than 40 protein kinases. And several of these are tyrosine kinases, including the ephrin receptor, an interest of Pawson’s, which closes the loop through a collaboration between Pawson and SGC.

An unusual aspect of the SGC is the way that it involves the international pharmaceutical industry. Industrial sponsors are offered the right to nominate proteins to the study list and to nominate a member to the Scientific Committee and the Board of Directors. But they do not have any rights to scientific data prior to their publication; the data are freely public for anyone to use.

Cancer Stem Cells

The cancer stem-cell story is entirely Canadian and is one of the best examples anywhere of how fundamental research can give rise to practical outcomes of enormous importance.

John Dick’s research builds on the work of James Till and Ernest McCulloch at the Ontario Cancer Institute (OCI) in the early 1960s. Working with the blood-cell system, called the hematopoietic system, Till and McCulloch were the first in the world to establish the concepts of stem cells, for which they were awarded a Lasker Award in 2005.

Dick’s work on the origins of human leukemic cancer has transformed our view of leukemia pathogenesis. In conven- tional models most cancer cells are thought to be capable of causing the disease. However, Dick’s research on human leukemias suggested that only a small fraction of the cells in leukemia –the cancer stem cells— retain the ability to self- renew and yield the cancer. This is an enormously important insight into cancer development and suggests that stem cells are key, unappreciated therapeutic targets. For example, Dick’s work suggests that the recurrence of cancer following chemotherapy might be because available drugs do not target the cancer stem cells, leaving them to serve as a reservoir for the development of resistance. Insights from Dick’s research are being applied by many investigators to solid-tumour biology.

Moreover, he has identified a protein that exists on the surface of these colon-cancer stem cells, which is a strong candidate for development of an antibody, which could lead to the first Stephen Scherer, targeted treatment of colon cancer. The Hospital for Sick Children 2007 annual report • 11 Biomarkers

OGI-funded investigators are using the abundance of information flowing from the Human Genome Project for the devel- opment of new ways to recognize and treat some of the most important diseases, including cancers and heart disease. One way to approach this is by developing genetic, protein or cell-surface markers, so-called biomarkers, which can be correlated with cellular events that lead to disease, or can indicate susceptibility or lack of susceptibility to specific treatments. In cur- rent medical practice medicines are prescribed on the basis of their known effects on the population at large. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that many human sub-populations can have markedly different drug reactions than the general populace. Important questions that bear on this problem can now be asked: Is this individual likely to develop a particular disease? Is this person likely to develop a negative side effect when taking a particular prescribed medicine? How quickly does the body metabolize this medicine in this person? In which tissues does the medication end up? Has this person been exposed previously to a particular environmental contaminant?

One of the earliest examples of an important biomarker comes from the work of Dennis Slamon (UCLA) on the HER2/neu oncogenes in breast cancer. His work has led to an understanding of how these genes serve as a biomarker for prognosis, as well as being therapeutic targets and a predictive test for therapeutic outcome. This insight has saved the lives of thousands of women with breast cancer. Slamon was the featured guest speaker at the 2006 OGI-CHI workshop on biomarkers and clinical trials in Toronto (see page 22). Slamon was named a 2007 Gairdner Foundation award winner for his work.

Peter Liu, University of Toronto David MacLennan, University of Toronto Anthony Gramolini, University of Toronto

OGI has funded several large-scale projects to identify genetic, protein and cell-surface cancer markers. Tom Hudson and Brent Zanke direct an OGI-funded initiative called The Assessment of Risk for Colorectal Tumours in Canada (ARCTIC). The ARCTIC project aims to identify genetic and epidemiological risk factors that can determine the potential risk of developing colorectal cancer.

OGI-funded investigators, Peter Liu and his team, including Andrew Emili, Anthony Gramolini, and David MacLennan are active in a project to identify biomarkers related to heart disease. In collaboration with colleagues at Roche Pharmaceuticals, working from a list of more than 500 biomarkers, the team compiled a list of possible biomarkers for which patent applica- tions have been filed.

Cynthia Guidos leads a team of researchers who are working to identify clinically useful breast cancer biomarkers using proteomic analysis and gene-expression profiling of breast-cancer tissue and serum samples. Other activities include genomic and proteomic profiling of brain-cancer and leukemia stem cells, genomic analysis of therapeutic resistance in leukemia, and genetic regulation of brain-tumour stem cells. Two team members, Tak Mak and John Dick, were among the first-ever recipi- ents of the Ontario Premier’s Summit Awards in Medical Research, announced in May 2007.

Dick is a world-leader in leukemia research and development of the blood system. He was the first to recognize the impor- tance of cancer stem cells in the initiation of leukemia. This finding has been replicated in several other cancer types and has profound implications for how to treat cancer. Dick and Scott Tanner are developing an instrument based on mass-spec- trometry and flow-cytometry that will recognize biomarkers on the surface of leukemic stem cells. When fully developed this instrument will allow the simultaneous detection of up to 100 biomarkers on a single cell and will be an important means of early detection.

As biomarker research moves from research to health care application, OGI-funded Ontario researchers are well-placed to continue making valuable contributions.

12 It is becoming increasingly clear that many human sub-populations can have markedly different drug reactions than the general populace.

Andrew Emili, University of Toronto

2007 annual report • 13 Infectious Diseases and Promoting Global Health Few issues are more pressing on a global scale than the threat of infectious disease, the single greatest cause of illness and death worldwide. Daily, millions are confronted with diseases like malaria, which are endemic for scores of nations in the developing world. Once controllable infectious bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are resurging as antibiotic- resistant strains in North America and Europe. New viruses, like the SARS coronavirus and West Nile virus, have recently emerged and spread to Canada.

The health, social and economic disruption wrought by SARS in 2003, the spread of which was facilitated by the ease and speed with which people and the diseases they carry are able to travel from country to country today, served as a powerful reminder that infectious diseases impact the entire global community. Yet it remains that if and when they appear in develop- ing countries as opposed to more developed countries like Canada, they bring with them an inordinately high potential for devastation. For example, about 2.5 billion people, most of whom are living in developing nations, are at risk of contracting malaria. Every year, more than 500 million people get sick from the disease, and more than one million die from its effects. Unfortunately, malaria is but one of many infectious diseases that disproportionately impact the developing world.

Because of their potential to significantly improve our understanding, detection and treatment of infectious diseases, genomics and proteomics projects are providing critical knowledge and methodological tools for mitigating the impact of infectious dis- eases at home and abroad. By looking beyond our national borders to focus efforts on challenges faced by the populations of less developed nations, OGI-funded researchers are ensuring that the benefits of genomics and proteomics extend to the entire world. Since 2000, OGI has proudly supported four projects, two of which are ongoing, that have leveraged a total of $31.4 million in funding into tackling scientific and ethical problems of truly global import.

Traditionally neglected by much of Western research, translational research on infectious disease of global importance is the focus of the new McLaughlin-Rotman Centre (MRC) for Global Health, created in FY2007 at the University of Toronto and housed in the MaRS Centre. Leading the efforts at the MRC are OGI-funded researchers Kevin Kain, Peter Singer and Abdal- lah Daar (see sidebar below). Collectively, their research is putting renewed emphasis on the potential to use genomics and related biotechnologies to better detect and combat infectious diseases that have public health implications in the developing world.

Genomics, Nanotechnology and Global Health

Bringing together nanotechnology and genomics, the Africa; studies of South-South international collaborations Quantum Dot Diagnostic Project led by Kevin Kain, made in health biotechnologies; and, examination of the implica- tremendous strides this past year in the development of a tions for global health of increases in our knowledge and Quantum Dot barcode system for detecting, identifying understanding of population genomics. and characterizing infectious disease-causing pathogens of global importance, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C. Their The fight against malaria also has a strong ally in the revolutionary new system, which their research has shown Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an ambitious to be ten times more sensitive than current state-of-the-art $120 million public-private partnership, supported in part diagnostic techniques, has led to new patent filings cover- through OGI, under the direction of Aled Edwards, at the ing its design and use. University of Toronto. The SGC includes laboratories in Oxford, led by Michael Sundström; in Stockholm, led by In the policy arena and research into genomics-related Johan Weigelt and Per Nordlund; and in Toronto, led by ethical, economic, environmental, legal and social issues Cheryl Arrowsmith. (GE3LS), Peter Singer and Abdallah Daar have continued to build on their earlier successes as Co-Directors of the A landmark year in FY2007 had the SGC poised to post Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health (CPGGH). 440 new structures of human proteins to the public Protein The CPGGH was born of two previous research programs Data Bank by July 2007, accounting for approximately funded through OGI from 2001 to 2006; this research one-third of the new human protein structure output of continues under a new institutional rubric – namely, the the entire world over the life of the SGC. These structures MRC Program on Life Sciences, Ethics and Policy – and include 40% percent of all new structures deposited for within a new project: “Strengthening the Role of Genomics Apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium species, and Global Health.” Through this latest initiative, Singer which are responsible for malaria. The availability of such and Daar continue to ensure that developing countries structures has proved a vital aspect of drug development share the social and economic benefits of the genomics for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies world- revolution, and to address existing disparities in global wide; with new targets elucidated by the SGC, these human health. Their innovative approaches include: case companies will be better equipped to develop the next studies exploring private sector development in genomics generation of anti-malarial treatments. and biotechnology in India, China, Brazil and South

14 Abdallah Daar and Peter Singer, University of Toronto

About 2.5 billion people, most of whom are living in developing nations, are at risk of contracting malaria.

Aled Edwards, University of Toronto 2007 annual report • 15 Biodiversity, the Environment and Looking Ahead Over the past six years, OGI has funded three projects with total budgets of $34.1 million that have either applied DNA sequencing on a large scale or provided technology services that have allowed others to do so. DNA sequencing and its enabling technologies are as foundational to current genomics research as they have been throughout the life of this young science – perhaps more today than ever, as the past year has seen unprecedented strides made in these technologies and their applications.

The publication of the first draft sequence of the human genome in 2001 marked the culmination of an effort over 13 years and about $4 billion in the making. Six short years later, genomics researchers and the technologies they have developed have made it possible to sequence a human genome at a cost in the millions of dollars – or even less – and in the span of months instead of years. The $1000 genome initiative from the US National Institutes of Health and Archon Genomics X Prize – which will award a Canadian-funded $10 million prize to the first group able to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days – are helping to spur new waves of development in the next generation sequencing that will make rapid, low-cost whole genome sequences attainable in the near future. Such capacity, accompanied by vastly increased understanding of how vari- ous elements in the genome interact with each other and with environmental inputs to impact human development, function and disease, will change the way we use genetic information to inform and influence our lives, from applying findings from nutrigenomics research to our dietary choices, to benefiting from personalized medicine.

Indeed, the richness of our genomic knowledge is growing exponentially. All the more so, given that other sequencing strategies have evolved in parallel that look to examine not just single human genomes, but the genome sequences of entire communities of organisms. Through the development and use of new sequencing techniques and analyses, metagenomics researchers are determining the varieties and flux of organisms in distinct communities, like those in the Sargasso Sea, indus- trial drainage pools, or the human gut. Through such “field” sampling, all species, researchers are bypassing the challenges of isolating and amplifying individual species previously necessary for such understanding of communal living, the benefits of which include enabling development and implementation of bioremediation strategies in polluted areas (see sidebar below).

Their efforts are vastly aided by the fact that the genome sequences are now known for literally hundreds of organisms, from viruses and bacteria, to economically and scientifically important plants, model organisms, mammals and even large swaths of prehistoric genomes from wooly mammoths and Neanderthals. Never before has our resolution of understanding the world around us been so acute.

Still others, like OGI-funded University of Guelph researcher Paul Hebert, are enabling their approach to many genomes by focusing their sequencing efforts on the same, short region of the genome. Coined by Hebert, DNA barcoding technology uses a short DNA sequence from the cytochrome c-oxidase 1 (CO1) gene to identify and distinguish various animal species, in much the same way that UPC barcodes are used to identify specific products in a grocery or department store. In addition to species identification, DNA barcoding has numerous other applications, including: rapid identification of invasive species; identification of threatened or endangered animals or animal products crossing international borders; and tracing the origins of foods available to consumers in the marketplace.

The Barcode of Life Looking forward to environmental metagenomics

Barcoding was profiled in media across Canada and In October 2006, Genome Canada invited genomics and throughout the world, including the cover feature story proteomics researchers to submit a Strategic Research in the March/April 2007 issue of Canadian Geographic Theme by first submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) magazine. OGI-funded University of Guelph researcher to develop a Position Paper. In January 2007, an expert Paul Hebert was among the “Best & Brightest 2006” committee, with input from the regional Genome Centres featured in Esquire magazine, New Scientist, El Pais.com, and Genome Canada, grouped the fifty-seven EOIs re- Actualidad and was interviewed by CBC. In fact, FY2007 ceived from across the country into ten Strategic Research was a landmark year in the history of the DNA barcod- Themes. Among the Themes are three which deal with the ing project. The animal Data Management and Analysis application of genomics and proteomics to environmental System (DMAS) now exceeds 190K specimen records from challenges: Bioenergy and Value-Added Bioproducts; the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB), which Sustaining and Enhancing Productivity of Crop, Forest and represents a significant advance over the team’s original Ocean Industries; and, Ecosystem Health in Response to milestone of 150K specimen records. In addition, modules Change, and Environmental Monitoring. An international for the analysis of protists, plants and fungi are being de- panel of scientific experts will evaluate the resulting veloped, and a new publicly-accessible taxonomy browser position papers and prioritize them to move on to the was added to the Barcode of Life Data (BOLD) system. next step toward funding.

16 Paul Hebert, University of Guelph

Coined by Hebert, DNA barcoding technology uses a short DNA sequence from the cytochrome c-oxidase 1 (CO1) gene to identify and distinguish various animal species

2007 annual report • 1517 Research Programs

Projects actively funded in FY2007

Segmental Duplications in Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Quantum Dot Diagnostics: Simultaneous Genomic and Proteomic Behavioural Disorders Profiling of Multiple Pathogens at Point-of-Care Stephen Scherer Kevin Kain Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto University Health Network, Toronto Xavier Estivill Michael Greenberg Centro de Regulació Genòmica, Barcelona FIO Systems Corporation, Richmond Hill, Ontario April 2004 – September 2007 January 2006 – December 2009

Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) Identification of Genetic Pathways that Regulate the Survival and Aled Edwards Development of Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells University of Toronto Cynthia Guidos University of Oxford (UK) Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden) January 2006 – December 2009 April 2003 – March 2008 (Phase One) Genome-Environment Interactions in Type I Diabetes Protein Expression Profiling Platform for Heart Disease Jayne Danska Biomarker Discovery Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Peter Liu, Andrew Emili, David MacLennan Andrew MacPherson University of Toronto McMaster University, Hamilton October 2004 – December 2007 January 2006 – December 2009

Assessing Risk for Colorectal Tumours in Canada (ARCTIC) The Contribution of Genetic Modulators of Disease Severity in Cystic Fibrosis to Brent Zanke Other Diseases with Similarities of Clinical Phenotype Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto Peter Durie, Julian Zielenski Tom Hudson Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre January 2006 – December 2009 October 2004 – December 2007 Autism Genome Project Mass Spectrometer-based Flow Cytometer, Methods and Applications Stephen Scherer John Dick Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto University Health Network January 2006 – December 2009 January 2005 – December 2007 Integrative Biology Canadian Barcode of Life Network Brenda Andrews Paul Hebert University of Toronto University of Guelph January 2006 – December 2009 April 2005 – March 2009 International Regulome Consortium (IRC) Development Phase The Dynactome: Mapping Spatio-Temporal Dynamics Michael Rudnicki Systems in Humans Ottawa Health Research Institute Anthony Pawson April 2006 – July 2008 Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto Jeff Wrana Strengthening the Role of Genomics and Global Health Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Peter Singer, Abdallah Daar Shawn S-C Li University of Toronto University of Western Ontario, London April 2006 – March 2010 October 2005 – September 2009 Structural and Functional Annotation of the Human Genome for Disease Study The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG) Robert Hegele Ontario Genomics Platform Robarts Research Institute, London Stephen Scherer October 2006 – September 2010 Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto January 2006 – December 2008 (continuation of the Genomic Resource Core Facility)

18 Completed projects

Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health The Stem Cell Genomics Project Peter Singer, Abdallah Daar Michael Rudnicki University of Toronto Ottawa Health Research Institute October 2001 – September 2005 July 2002 – March 2006

Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Model Organisms Genetic Determinants of Human Health and Disease Janet Rossant, Anthony Pawson Katherine Siminovitch Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto October 2001 – September 2005 July 2002 – March 2006

Jack Greenblatt, Andrew Spence, Brenda Andrews Proteomics and Functional Genomics – An Integrated Approach University of Toronto Brenda Andrews, Cheryl Arrowsmith October 2001 – March 2006 University of Toronto July 2002 – March 2006 Genetic Determinants of Human Health and Disease – Annotation of Chromosome 7 Stephen Scherer Development and Applications of Functional Genomics Technologies Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto James Woodgett October 2001 – September 2005 University Health Network, Toronto October 2002 – September 2005 Genomic Resource Core Facility Stephen Scherer, Lap-chee Tsui Functional Genomics of Type 1 Diabetes Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Jayne Danska October 2001 – September 2007 Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto October 2002 – March 2006 The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND) Christopher Hogue Mapping and Isolation of Genes Influencing Severity of Disease in Cystic Fibrosis Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto Peter Durie, Lap-Chee Tsui April 2002 – December 2005 Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto October 2002 – March 2006 Functional Genomics, Pharmacogenomics and Proteomics of the Immune Response in Health and Immune Related Disorders Bridging the Emerging Genomics Divide (Joint project with Génome Québec) Peter Singer, Abdallah Daar Rafick-Pierre Sékaly University of Toronto University of Montréal January 2003 – March 2006 David Kelvin University Health Network, Toronto Genomic Analysis of Soil Microorganisms Katherine Siminovitch Turlough Finan, Brian Golding Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto McMaster University, Hamilton April 2002 – March 2006 January 2003 – March 2006

Viral Proteomics Genomics of the Spruce Budworm and its Viral Pathogens Lori Frappier, Christian Burks Arthur Retnakaran, Basil Arif Affinium Pharmaceuticals, Toronto Great Lakes Forestry Centre – NRC, Sault Ste. Marie July 2002 – March 2005 January 2003 – March 2006

Functional Genomics of Arabidopsis Fiber Optic Nucleic Acid (FONA) Biosensor-based Gene Profiling: Proof of Principle by John Coleman Screening for Drug Leads for Orphan Neurodegenerative Disorders and SNP Analysis University of Toronto Alex MacKenzie July 2002 – September 2005 Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa Paul Piunno, Ulrich Krull University of Toronto at Mississauga July 2003 – June 2005

Proteomics Technology Core Facility (PTCF) Gilles Lajoie University of Western Ontario, London April 2005 – December 2005

2007 annual report • 19 Business Development Overview

Through its Business Development arm, OGI adds value to Ontario’s growing biotechnology and life sciences sectors by working with scientists to identify products with commercial potential that come out of their research.

Throughout FY2007 OGI coordinated and facilitated commercialization committee meetings for the projects and platforms that make up OGI’s research portfolio, and helped Ontario scientists to develop commercialization strategies and business plans.

Business development at OGI enjoyed many successes during FY2007. Twenty invention disclo- sures were made, eleven patent applications were filed on behalf of OGI-supported projects, and three spin-out companies were set up to commercialize intellectual property generated by OGI-supported research projects.

OGI also hosted two science-industry workshops which brought more than 180 participants from around the world to Ontario.

Investments OGI invests directly through its Pre-commercialization Business Development Fund (PBDF). The PBDF Mission is to help build a globally competitive life sciences industry in Ontario by enabling the economic impact of outcomes of genomics and proteomics research projects and technology development. The PBDF bridges the early-stage funding gap to help commer- cialize innovative research, and accelerates the transfer of products from the laboratory to the marketplace. OGI awards up to $100,000 per investment.

During FY2007, OGI’s business development team evaluated ten PBDF proposals, provided commercial advice to more than twelve scientific entrepreneurs and entered advanced negotiations with two key investments as part of OGI’s PBDF program.

Existing Pre-commercialization Business Development Fund Investments:

Great Lakes Forestry Centre (Sault Ste. Marie) Colony Cell Arrayer (Toronto) The project, in its final stages, continues to collaborate with The project involves development of an automated device international leaders in the field to develop and validate a used to establish and replicate high-density yeast arrays. biocontrol agent against crop pests, with the ultimate goal The cell arrayer is complemented by a robotic arm of finding a commercialization partner for the technology. developed by Engineering Services Inc. (ESI). This project entered into its second phase in FY2007. Plant Metabolomics (Waterloo) Partnership with Performance Plants continues with the Epitope Protection Assay (Toronto) goal of identifying genes involved in stress tolerance that OGI’s second tranche investment in this project was made can then be developed as commercial technologies by in FY2007. Epitope Protection Assay (EPA) allows for the industry partner Performance Plants. The company sensitive and specific detection of misfolded proteins in completed a new financing round of $12 million, blood samples. The project is aimed at extending the EPA representing the largest private investment in an technology to develop a molecular diagnostic test for ag-biotech company in Canada. Alzheimer’s disease.

20 George Adams, Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.

One of OGI’s four Pre-Commercialization Business Devel- OGI made an investment in Amorfix through its subsidiary, opment Fund (PBDF) investments, Amorfix Life Sciences GO, Inc., to develop a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, Ltd., had a banner year. In December 2006, Amorfix was based on Amorfix’s patent-pending Epitope Protection named the only Canadian recipient of 47 organizations from technology. Amorfix, led by CEO George Adams, is an around the world to be named a “Technology Pioneer” by emerging biotechnology company focused on the diagnosis the World Economic Forum (WEF). Also in December 2006, and treatment of brain-wasting diseases where aggregated Amorfix announced that the National Research Council misfolded proteins are prevalent. Amorfix aims to develop Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) diagnostic kits, treatments and vaccines for AMP diseases invested $322,000 into the research and development of including Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (also known as Lou Amorfix’s proposed diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease. Gehrig’s Disease) and Parkinson’s disease.

2007 annual report • 21 Science - Industry Workshops

The Business Development arm of OGI was also involved in planning two key industry workshops in FY2007 which drew participants from around the globe.

Molecular Imaging-Biomarker Workshop Innovation and Reform in Clinical Trials: Using Biomarker Data to Improve Clinical On 31 May 2006, OGI and GE Healthcare co-hosted the Trials and Patient Outcomes Molecular Imaging-Biomarker conference at the MaRS Centre in Toronto. The full-day workshop, which made For the second science-industry workshop in FY2007, OGI front page news in The National Post, brought together partnered with the Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI) more than eighty scientists, clinicians and industry repre- to put on a one and one half day conference on Innova- sentatives from a variety of disciplines, representing 64 tion and Reform in Clinical Trials: Using Biomarker Data to institutions, in order to explore the possibilities of using Improve Clinical Trials and Patient Outcomes held from 1 powerful imaging modalities to uncover better information to 2 November 2006 at The Sheraton Centre in Toronto. about biomarkers. More than 100 registrants, 65% of which who were interna- One attendee, from GE Healthcare, commented, “Not only tional participants, attended this conference which was the is this one of the pertinent links between the Life Sciences first-ever in Canada for CHI. Almost half of the attendees and the imaging side of GE, but it is also being recognized were from industry, including representatives from Merck as one of the most promising areas of research that bridges & Co, Eli Lilly & Co, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Intel Corp bench top science to patient care.” and Abbott Labs. Based on the success of this effort, OGI and CHI will again partner to hold a two-day conference on Biomarkers can be specific proteins, DNA, or other mol- biomarkers and clinical trials in Toronto in October 2007. ecules that correlate to biological events, typically disease. In viewing and measuring these associated molecules, scientists can better understand disease progression, predict drug response, and even speed up drug discovery.

Particapants in the OGI/GE Healthcare Molecular Imaging-Biomarker Workshop, from left: Gurmit Singh, McMaster University and Pierre Couture, ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc., Paul Picot, GE Healthcare Pre-Clinical Imaging; Ian Lorimer, Ottawa Health Research Institute and Peter Liu, University of Toronto

22 “This was a very valuable meeting that offered both hope and practical roadmaps to get us out of our current high risk/high cost/long timeline paradigm for clinical trials and commercialization of critically needed novel and innovation therapies.” Jeffry Lawrence, BD Biosciences, Participant at 2006 OGI/GE Healthcare Molecular Imaging-Biomarker Workshop

2007 annual report • 23 Public Outreach and Next Generation Innovators

Genomics is a leading-edge science that has the potential to deliver significant benefits to society. But there are also complex issues and questions that society must engage with to fully contex- tualize the benefits. Recognizing that all stakeholders need access to facts presented without bias to engage in informed discussion and debate, OGI has developed a number of outreach initiatives with the goal of being a trusted source of information about genomics. OGI staff made more than 40 external presentations and organized five public “impact of science” forums across Ontario, focusing on issues as diverse as autism, nutrigenomics, genetic testing and bioethics.

Autism Forum Summer Research Fellowships Program

OGI-funded researchers take part in many outreach efforts. OGI also sponsored its fourth consecutive Summer One of the most successful was the public forum, “Under- Research Fellowships (SRF) program. Five Ontario under- standing Why Daniel Isn’t Talking: Research and Reflec- graduates from Guelph, Hamilton, London, and Thunder tions on Autism” held at the Hospital for Sick Children in Bay spent four months pursuing genomics research projects Toronto in April 2006. in cutting-edge laboratories across Ontario at: Robarts Research Institute, London (Julia Crieder); University of More than 160 people attended this OGI-hosted event Western Ontario (Sarah Blissett); Lakehead University which featured a diverse and engaging panel made up (Sheri Skerget); McMaster University (Erin Lymer) and of: Stephen Scherer, project lead on the Canadian Autism Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (Lauren Van Der Kraak). Genome Project, funded through OGI; Marti Leimbach, Articles profiling the 2006 students and their projects author of Daniel Isn’t Talking, a fictionalized account of appeared in regional newspapers and magazines including her experiences raising an autistic child; Rose Cordiano, The Guelph Tribune, Thunder Bay Chronicle, Richmond Multiple Exceptionalities Educator, Toronto District Catholic Hill Liberal and Western News (London). School Board (TDCSB); Wendy Roberts, Developmental Paediatrician and Autism Researcher; and Kayla Cornale, “The field of exon analysis using microarray technology is Ontario high school student and Science Fair Winner for brand new. My lab is pioneering the analysis of these chips “Sounds into Syllables,” an award winning research project and it was very exciting to be a part of that,” said OGI using music and computers to teach autistic children. One Summer Research Fellow, Julia Creider. “I learned to use attendee wrote, “I really enjoyed learning about the latest many genomic tools including microarray analysis, bioana- discoveries in terms of genomics and how much closer the lyzer techniques, and various computational analysis tools.” research is to completing goals.” A full-length feature film, based on Leimbach’s book and potentially starring Julia The SRF program also included bi-weekly journal club Roberts, is scheduled for release in 2008. meetings, conducted via web conferencing, allowing the students the opportunity to discuss their ongoing research Open House and Outreach talks and to network with each other as well as with OGI staff and researchers. The keynote speaker at the culmination In May 2006, OGI also hosted an Open House reception workshop held in August 2006 was James Till. Till along to mark the official opening of the new OGI offices at with Ernest McCulloch received a 2005 Lasker Award for the new MaRS Centre in the core of Toronto’s “Discovery “ingenious experiments that first identified a stem cell - the District”. More than 120 scientists, stakeholders and OGI blood-forming stem cell - which set the stage for all current supporters toured OGI’s new home. research on adult and embryonic stem cells”.

In September 2006, OGI’s Program Director for Ethics, “I believe a key strength of the OGI Summer Fellowship Social Impact and Outreach, Shane Green was invited to is the continuous open communication among the men- deliver the keynote address to 125 scientists, consultants tors and peers throughout the program’s duration” noted and biotechnology industry representatives at the Toronto Kathleen Hill, who supervised Sarah Blissett’s SRF research. Biotechnology Initiative Breakfast. His talk, on stem cells, “I was very impressed at the mentoring that the program led to invitations to speak to the Canada Bioscience Group participants and organizers provided to the Fellows. The and Arizona Biotechnology Association as well as to write mentors provided a strong nurturing environment for an article for Biotechnology Focus magazine. This article these talented new researchers. As a result, the Fellows was the cover story in the magazine’s January 2007 issue. succeeded in making a significant contribution to genom- ics research and effectively communicating their scientific advances.” 24 (From left): Sarah Blissett, Erin Lymer, Lauren Van Der Kraak, Sheri Skerget, and Julia Crieder.

“The OGI Summer Fellowship is a fabulous program, providing a structured learning environment for students who are just starting to learn about conducting original research. The program provides useful supports, allowing the student to apprentice with their supervisor on their project while also providing a more structured forum for students to share the research experience with their peers.”

Fiona Miller, McMaster University and mentor of OGI Summer Research Fellow Erin Lymer

2007 annual report • 25 Reaching Out Through The Arts

We continued our partnership with Shaftesbury Films with a second season of OGI’s web-based Facts Behind the Fiction, an episode-by-episode online companion series to ReGenesis.

26 Another strategy for OGI’s outreach is our use of arts and – which includes interviews with Christian Burks, Aled creative media to reach a broader audience. Edwards, Christina Jennings, and senior writer Tom Chehak – there were also demonstrations of the work being done Canadian film and television producers, Shaftesbury Films, by AXS Biomedical Animation Studio. Copies of OGI’s Facts have been entertaining and engaging audiences in 119 Behind the Fiction web feature were made available to all countries worldwide with their hour-long, TV science dra- attendees as bound volumes containing up-to-date versions ma, ReGenesis. Its unique portrayal of plausible science- of the material from the first two seasons. based storylines builds upon input from OGI-supported scientist and head of the international Structural Genomics OGI also announced a new web-based companion feature Consortium (SGC), Aled Edwards, who serves as ReGenesis’ called ReGenesis: Science & Society, which addresses, science advisor. OGI was proud to extend our partnership episode-by-episode, some of the social and ethical issues with Shaftesbury in 2006, with a second season of OGI’s brought out in the program. web-based Facts Behind the Fiction, an episode-by-episode online companion series to the show. But the highlight of the launch gala was a lively panel

From left: Peter Outerbridge, Christina Jennings, Aled Edwards, Tom Chehak, Shane Green; Christian Burks; (facing) Conrad Pla and Peter Outerbridge.

Building on a solid second season that saw the show discussion moderated by OGI’s Director of Outreach and garner 11 Gemini Award nominations, the third season of Communications, Marianne Fedunkiw, featuring Christina ReGenesis provided an opportunity to further build upon Jennings, Tom Chehak, Aled Edwards, actor Peter Outer- the partnership between OGI and Shaftesbury Films. For bridge, who plays rogue scientist, David Sandström, on the the launch of Season 3 of ReGenesis, OGI co-hosted a gala show, and OGI’s Program Director for Ethics, Social Impact event with Shaftesbury Films at the MaRS Centre on 27 and Outreach, Shane Green. March 2007. OGI’s President and CEO, Christian Burks and Christina Jennings, co-CEO of Shaftesbury Films and During FY2007, OGI also hosted three screenings of the the creator and executive producer of ReGenesis, wel- Genome Canada-sponsored feature film The Score, in comed more than 150 scientists, actors, film, biotechnology Ottawa (in both English and French) and Toronto, after and pharmaceutical industry executives, and government each of which the audience was invited to stay for a dis- officials including Ontario Ministry of Research and Innova- cussion with a panel of experts. These forums facilitated tion Deputy Minister Alastair Glass and Assistant Deputy public dialogue by bringing together diverse speakers and Minister George Ross. panelists including researchers, patient advocates, ethicists, genetic counselors, and actors, to share their expertise and In addition to previews of Season 3, screening excerpts experiences and answer questions raised by the film. from The Making of ReGenesis: Season 3 documentary

AXS Biomedical Animation Studio is, like OGI, located in the MaRS Centre. The three-person AXS team, made up of Sonya Amin, Eddy Xuan and Jason Sharpe, created all of the computer generated images and animation for the second and third seasons of ReGenesis, as well as the cover image for this report.

Images created by AXS for ReGenesis appear as part of the web-based OGI-sponsored initiative called Facts Behind the Fiction. FY2007 rep- resents the second consecutive year for this web resource.

AXS’ animations explore a wide range of subjects within the context of the television science drama’s storylines including treatment of HIV, horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, and insect vectors in agro-terror- ism. AXS was nominated for a 2006 Gemini Award for Best Visual FX.

2007 annual report • 27 Workshops and Talks Workshops and Panel Discussions

Uncovering Why Daniel Isn’t Talking – Diet & DNA – Nutrigenomics and Your Health Research and Reflections on Autism (National Biotechnology Week Event) 26 April 2006 25 September 2006 SickKids, Toronto MaRS Centre, Toronto Partners: SickKids, McClelland Stewart Publishing Partners: MaRS, CBERC, BIOTECanada

The Score (Screening & Panel Discussion) Stakeholder Workshop to Discuss an Appropriate Policy 13 May 2006 Framework for Nanotechnology Ontario Science Centre, Toronto (OGI-sponsored) Partners: Huntington Society of Canada, Genome Canada, 16 March 02007 Ontario Science Centre MaRS Centre, Toronto Hosted by: Canadian Institute for Environmental Law & 24 May (English) & 31 (French), 2006 Policy (CIELAP) Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa Sponsors: OGI, Health Canada, Canadian Biotechnology Partners: Huntington Society of Canada, Genome Canada, Secretariat Canadian Museum of Nature

Public Talks OGI staff gave talks throughout Ontario, across Canada and internationally to audiences totalling more than 1,100 people and to audiences including medical and engineering students, ethicists, clini- cians, industry representatives, consular officials, publishers, researchers, high school teachers and students, and the general public. These talks included:

“Arranged Marriages: An Examination of Canada’s Interdisciplinary Ontario Genomics Institute – Education & Outreach. Genomics Research Model,” with Dr. Sarah Hartley, Genome BC. CSG/ Science Coordinators’ and Consultants’ Association of Ontario CESAGen 3rd International Conference: Genomics & Society – Towards a Ontario Science Centre (Toronto, 18 January 2007). Socially Robust Science? (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 21 April 2006). OGI, biomarkers and clinical trials in Ontario. BioWednesday “What’s in a Genome? Genomics, Ethics & Society.” High Commission of Canada (London, UK, 7 February 2007). – Sanofi Aventis Biotech Challenge Cloning! Has it changed our definition of the individual? Ontario Science Centre (Toronto, 1 May 2006). Café Scientifique “Genetic Testing – Who Owns the Results?” – Oncology Ethics Canadian Museum of Nature (Ottawa, 10 February 2007). Rounds, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto, 15 May 2006). Desperate Appliance: Stem cell science, ethics and policy. OGI, GE3LS and a Dangerous Idea. – Canadian Program on TML Professional Development Rounds, Toronto General Hospital, Genomics and Global Health (CPGGH) Summer Student Seminar University Health Network (Toronto, 15 February 2007). Series, Joint Centre for Bioethics (Toronto, 20 June 2006). The Human Genome / Stem Cell Research – Science, Ethics, & Desperate Appliance: Stem Cells in the Spotlight – Toronto Society. Durham District School Board (DDSB) Professional Biotechnology Initiative Breakfast (Toronto, 21 September 2006). Development Day (Whitby, 16 February 2007).

OGI Overview: Genomics & Proteomics Research in Ontario The Science and Social Impact of Genomics & Proteomics – Canada Bioscience Group Research in Ontario, Canada. Arizona BioIndustry Association MaRS Centre (Toronto, 28 September 2006). (Phoenix, AZ, 20 February 2007). Ethical Issues in Genetic Medicine. – University of Toronto Behavioural Genetics: There but for the grace of genes… Department of Family and Community Medicine and Joint Centre Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Brown Bag for Bioethics GenEthics Curriculum Buddy Tutor Orientation Research Ethics Series (Toronto, 22 February 2007). (Toronto, 23 October 2006). What’s in a Genome? Genomics, Ethics, & Society. University of What’s in a Genome? Genomics, Ethics & Society.– Science Toronto Lecture Series (Markham, 1 March 2007). Teachers’ Association of Ontario Annual Conference Genomics: the Next Wave (and surf’s up in Ontario). (Toronto, 17 November 2006). University of Waterloo CUBE Symposium of Health Technology Ethical Issues in Genetic Medicine. University of Toronto Medical 2007 (Waterloo, 14 March 2007). School, Department of Pathobiology, GenEthics Curriculum Session Desperate Appliance: Stem Cell Science, Ethics & Policy. (Toronto, 27 November 2006). York University @ Glendon College Bodies as test tubes: Ethical issues in human subjects research. (North York, 26 March 2007). Philosophy Café (“Whose body is it anyway?”), University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (Toronto, 10 December 2006).

28 Board of Directors & Staff

Office Annual General Meeting Ontario Genomics Institute 26 September 2007 MaRS Centre, Heritage Building 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm 101 College Street, Suite HL50 OGI Board Room Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1L7 MaRS Centre, Heritage Building Canada 101 College Street, Suite HL50 Tel: +1 (416) 977-9582 Toronto, Ontario Fax: +1 (416) 977-8342 www.OntarioGenomics.ca [email protected]

Board of Directors Staff (as at 31 March 2007) (as at 31 March 2007) CHAIR John P. Molloy Siân Bevan J. Mark Lievonen President & CEO Research Program Manager President PARTEQ Innovations sanofi pasteur Limited Christian Burks Steven Rothstein President & CEO VICE-CHAIR University Senior Research Chair Mark Poznansky University of Guelph Anne Cheung President and Scientific Director Interim Director, Business Development Robarts Research Institute Bonnie Schmidt President Narinder Dehal DIRECTORS Let’s Talk Science VP, Finance & Operations Christian Burks President & CEO Louis Siminovitch Barry Elkind Ontario Genomics Institute Research Director Emeritus Research Program Manager Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute Elizabeth Dowdeswell Marianne P. Fedunkiw Visiting Professor, Public Health Sciences Niclas Stiernholm Director, Outreach & Communications McLaughlin-Rotman Center for Global Health President & CEO Trillium Therapeutics Inc. Klaus Fiebig James D. Friesen Chief Scientific Officer & VP, Research Programs Banting & Best Department of Brian Underdown Medical Research Managing Director, Technology Investing Beata Gallay University of Toronto MDS Capital Corporation Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Alastair Glass Paul J. Van Damme Shane K. Green (ex officio) VP, Finance and Program Director, Ethics, Social Impact & Deputy Minister Chief Financial Officer Outreach Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Vasogen Inc. Sharon Karamath Martin Godbout TREASURER Research Program Manager President & CEO Narinder Dehal Genome Canada VP, Finance & Operations Dennis McCormac Ontario Genomics Institute Director, Platform Development Jay Lefton Partner SECRETARY Helen Petropoulos Olgivy Renault LLP Keith Pinder Manager, Business Development Consultant Tim McTiernan Innovation Institute of Ontario Kimberly Riley Executive Director of Innovations Manager, Events & Communications Assistant VP, Research University of Toronto Rhonda Tannenbaum Director, Business Development (on leave)

2007 annual report • 29 $34.5M advanced Financial to large scale Snapshot projects, $70M in economic activity in Ontario when Genome Canada funds are matched by co-funding partners.

Total economic Genome Canada activity committed investment, through by Genome Canada, OGI, in Ontario MRI, and co-funding projects grew partners since the by $26M inception of OGI to a total of $191M is more than $500M. in FY2007.

Report design by LS Digital • Cover image by axs biomedical animation studio

Black and white portraits taken by Fabrice Strippoli at the following Ontario locations:

Biodiversity Institute of Ontario McMaster University Siebens-Drake Research Institute Sprott Centre for Stem Cell University of Guelph Hamilton Schulich School of Research Medicine and Dentistry Ottawa Health Research Institute MaRS Centre sanofi pasteur University of Western Ontario Heritage Building Toronto London Toronto

30 the future is in our genes.