Ontario’s COVID-19 Genomics Rapid Response Coalition
About
To accelerate the genomic characterization and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Ontario and to help expedite patient genome sequencing through a coordinated approach bringing together all of the province’s genomics resources and capacity to enable timely and comprehensive genomic analysis.
Genomics
Infrastructure
Standardized Sequencing Methodologies
Bioinformatics
Infrastructure
Data Management & Sharing
The ON-CoV Coalition is designed to provide for method standardization and coordination of:
1
Collecting Patient Samples and Metadata
2
Sequencing
3
Data Curation and Management
4
Epidemiological Studies
This work will expedite real-time testing and reporting to inform public health and public policy, help manage and overcome the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and ensure scalability for Ontario’s future pandemics preparedness.
Why Genomics?
Genomic technologies are the foundation for the solutions necessary to combat the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic. Ontario’s world-leading expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, genomics epidemiology, and artificial intelligence, can expedite Ontario’s response to COVID-19.
The results reported by the Coalition will inform vaccine and therapeutic development.
Why Ontario Genomics?
Over the past 20 years, Ontario Genomics, together with the Ontario Government, Genome Canada, and academic, clinical and industry partners, has built a world-leading genomics ecosystem in Ontario with over $2.7B in funding leveraged for research, translation and the establishment of genomic technology platforms.
Ontario Genomics is well-positioned to provide and promote:
COLLABORATION
LEADERSHIP
EXPERTISE
Members
ONCoV Genomics Coalition Steering Committee
ONCoV Genomics Coalition Members
Bettina Hamelin
Ontario Genomics
Andrew G. McArthur
McMaster University
Aaron Campigotto
University of Toronto
Letitia Nadalin Penno
Canadore College
Nahuel Fittipaldi
Public Health Ontario
Allison McGeer
Sinai Health Systems
Jared Simpson
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Danielle Brabant-Kirwan
Health Sciences North
Prameet M. Sheth
Kingston Health Sciences Centre / Queen’s University
Robyn Lee
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Samira Mubareka
Sunnybrook Health Sciences / University of Toronto
Michael Szego
Unity Health Toronto / University of Toronto
Marc Fiume
DNAstack
David Villeneuve
Canadore College
Bo Wang
Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, UHN / University of Toronto
We are proactively working with the research community, partner genome centres, and governments to accelerate the genomic characterization and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Ontario. Learn more and stay up-to-date about our COVID-19 programs and important resources.
Partners
Public Policy Forum Podcast: Understanding a Disease – COVID-19 and Genomics Canada Podcast
June 1, 2020
COVID-19 is a virus that impacts different individuals in similar ways. In this podcast, Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President & CEO of Ontario Genomics and Dr. Rob Annan, President & CEO of Genome Canada explore the scientific aspects of COVID-19 dynamics and how it affects individuals.
Hospital News: Dr. Samira Mubareka - It’s all in the genome: Preparing for the next waves of COVID-19
May 28, 2020
On January 24th, Sunnybrook Health Sciences admitted the first Canadian patient with COVID-19. The traveller had just returned from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the virus outbreak. He presented with a respiratory illness due to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. At that moment I realized this virus would come to dominate our reality, both at Sunnybrook and across Canada.
COVID-19 Research: Genomics, Rapid Execution & Funding featuring Samira Mubareka
Ontario’s infectious disease expert speaks about her COVID-19 research in an interview with TheFuturEconomy.ca. Leading Sunnybrook’s Coronavirus response, her work on isolating & understanding the virus is helping roll out rapid research efforts.
April 27, 2020