NEWS
November 15, 2022
Medical professionals say Ontario’s government has a lot of work to do to change those perceptions and encourage more masking, including sharing information and evidence at a community level about the effectiveness — including against influenza and other viruses.
Researchers identify SARS-CoV-2 variant in white-tailed deer, evidence of deer-to-human transmission
In the summer of 2020, months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, Samira Mubareka and her colleagues began testing wildlife in Ontario and Quebec for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Now, her team has identified a SARS-CoV-2 variant in white-tailed-deer, evidence of transmission.
November 14, 2022
October 22, 2022
Canada is heading into a potentially brutal winter as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise, Omicron continues to rapidly mutate, and booster uptake remains stagnant — all at a time when flu season is returning and the health-care system is already under intense pressure. Dr. Allison McGeer, a medical microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital and a member of our ONCoV Genomics Coalition, said the lack of booster uptake in Canada has been “worrying” so far, which she attributes to confusion over messaging around waiting three or six months.
October 3, 2022
The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, according to World Health Organization (WHO). But Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician at Sinai Health System in Toronto, believes that the upcoming flu season could pose extra challenges to struggling health systems.
September 5, 2022
Scientists are bracing for high influenza rates, but it’s unclear exactly how fall and winter will play out. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious diseases specialist with the Sinai Health System in Toronto and a member of our ONCoV Genomics Coalition, is among those bracing for that possibility. “If we were just looking at COVID going into the fall, I think that would kind of be OK,” she said. “The problem is that what we’re expecting on top of it is a really busy flu season.”
September 3, 2022
Canada has just approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine to target the first highly contagious Omicron variant, with doses expected to start rolling out within days. But what exactly can we expect from these new shots in the real world? Infectious disease experts from our ONCoV Genomics Coalition shed light.
August 11, 2022
There has been a lack of clarity over the risks of covid-19 and vaccines against it during pregnancy throughout much of the pandemic, with research now overwhelmingly supporting that pregnant people get vaccinated. Learn more about pregnancy and vaccine safety from a member of the ONCoV Genomics coalition.
August 8, 2022
Infectious disease expert, COVID-19 research pioneer, and integral member of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Dr. Allison McGeer discusses the monkeypox outbreak and all that is known about its mechanism of spread, symptoms, management methods, and vaccines.
Dr. Allison McGeer, infectious disease specialist and ONCoV Coalition member sheds light on whether future infections will be milder than the first, as the virus finds a way into our bodies over and over again.
July 17, 2022
Canadian Scientist and a member of our ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Dr. Samira Mubareka, is laying the groundwork for researchers creating therapies and vaccines for COVID.
July 10, 2022
June 17, 2022
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Ontario have remained relatively steady over the last three weeks. COVID-19 indicators are steady with little increase or decrease over the past few weeks. Learn more in this insightful article.
Preliminary evidence from this recent study suggests that individuals living in lower income neighbourhoods are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. The relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 risk warrants further research.
May 29, 2022
May 27, 2022
For many of us, monkeypox is a virus we hadn’t heard of before this month. And while it is spreading, how worried do we need to be? Global News spoke with infectious disease physician, Allison McGeer, one of the indispensible members of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition, as she breaks it all down with a reassuring outlook.
A second major iteration of the Omicron variant, known as BA.2, is now dominant in the province as the sixth wave of the pandemic subsides. Learn more about what Public Health Ontario scientists and epidemiologists have to say about this dominant subvariant.
May 19, 2022
May 10, 2022
The World Economic Forum announced its selection of the 100 most promising Technology Pioneers of 2022 – companies that are tackling issues from sustainability and climate change to healthcare and more. DNAstack, one of our ONCoV Genomics Consortium partners, won this award for establishing federated data networks and powering insights in pandemic surveillance, neuroscience, rare disease, and oncology.
How has ONCoV Genomics Coalition helped researchers understand the genome of the novel coronavirus, which enabled them to detect variants of concern and determine their presence in a community? Read this insightful article to learn more.
April 19, 2022
April 13, 2022
With a lack of PCR testing available in Ontario, public health officials have pivoted to using other data sources to determine how the province is managing the spread of COVID-19. Part of that process is an analysis of infection in wastewater. But what is this wastewater data and what exactly is it telling us about COVID-19? Dr. Larry Goodridge and Elizabeth Edwards, part of our ONCoV Genomics coalition give us a rundown on wastewater testing for infectious diseases.
2 years into the pandemic, burning questions remain about COVID-19 — and how we fight it
March 11, 2022
Two years into the pandemic, questions remain about COVID-19 and how we fight it. Scientists like Dr. Samira Mubareka, part of the first Canadian research team to isolate SARS-CoV-2 and study its genetics are striving to unpack what makes this unique pathogen tick. We’re honoured to have Dr. Mubareka as an impactful member of our ONCoV initiative.
Plan for testing after N.B. lifts COVID-19 restrictions remains unclear
March 1, 2022
As restrictions end, there is "absolutely" the risk another wave could be on the way with the new BA2 subvariant of the Omicron variant spreading in Canada, said Dr. Allison McGeer, infectious disease physician at Sinai Health System in Toronto and a member of our ONCoV initiative.
The good and bad news on Omicron subvariant BA.2 as it continues to spread in Ontario
February 24, 2022
The good and bad news on the Omicron subvariant BA.2 as it continues to spread in Ontario - “Even though we’re all concerned about this Omicron subvariant, I think there are reasons to be optimistic,” said Catalina Lopez-Correa, CSO at Genome Canada leading CanCOGeN, which Ontario Genomics actively supports.
Testing wastewater could act as a 'passive surveillance system' in fight against COVID-19
February 23, 2022
Analyzing the content of our sewers is becoming an increasingly important tool as Canadians adapt to living with COVID-19, says a group of researchers pushing for a national wastewater surveillance system. Learn more and check out what Dr. Rob Delatolla, a civil engineering professor from the University of Ottawa and one of the researchers on an Ontario Genomics’ funded project has to say about wastewater testing.
Ontario sewage tests indicate COVID-19 may have plateaued but levels still high, experts say
January 21, 2022
A glimmer of hope with Omicron in Ontario from the University of Guelph wastewater monitoring group led by Dr. Lawrence Goodridge. Read on to learn more about the COVID-19 infection plateauing. We’re honoured to support this pathbreaking and need-of-the-hour research.
Vaccination may lower risk of ‘long COVID’ studies say — but experts aren’t so sure
Vaccination may lower risk of ‘long COVID’ studies say — but experts aren’t so sure. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician at the Sinai Health System in Toronto and ONCoV Coalition member weighs in.
January 19, 2022
The fate of COVID-19 depends on rapid data sharing
January 3, 2022
To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of open science to humanity is the understatement of the century. The fate of COVID-19 depends on rapid data sharing. Learn more about how the CanCoGen initiative is helping.
It’s all in the genome: Preparing for the next waves of COVID-19
November 21, 2021
Dr. Samira Mubareka, ONCoV Genomics Coalition steering committee member, spoke to Hospital News about preparing for the next waves of COVID-19. Check out what she has to say about genomic sequencing and tackling future pandemics.
Increase of severity in childhood cancers 'tragic consequence' of diagnosis delays during pandemic: oncologist
November 15, 2021
A pediatric oncologist is raising the alarm about the increase of severity in childhood cancers she is seeing due to diagnostic delays since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Sheila Singh, ONCoV Coalition member with McMaster Children’s Hospital said in the last year, their unit has seen a big uptick in advanced cancer diagnoses in children.
Illumina Supports Canada's Nationwide COVID-19 Genome Sequencing Initiative
November 3, 2021
Data from 10,000 individuals affected by SARS-CoV-2 will be used to identify biomarkers that can help predict potential risk of serious disease and support the development of novel therapeutics to combat COVID-19. Stephen Scherer, PhD, ONCoV Coalition member, Chief of Research at SickKids, and a scientific leader of CGEn and HostSeq noted, "Dozens of researchers spanning the entire country are involved in this effort so data-sharing is essential." Scherer continued, "If we have learned anything from the pandemic it is that the answers will come from scientific data."
Booster shots, 3rd doses and who needs them
October 29, 2021
As we approach the 11-month mark from when the first COVID-19 vaccinations were given in Canada, many people are wondering about whether — and when — they might need an additional dose to remain protected against the virus. That raises lots of questions. Here's what Dr. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious diseases specialist and microbiologist at Sinai Health Systems in Toronto and ONCoV Coalition member has to say.
Why rushing COVID-19 booster shots for everyone could do more harm than good
Dr. Allison McGeer, a medical microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, says there are two core reasons why developing a booster that specifically targets delta would be advantageous.
September 4, 2021
COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Is Making Campus Safer, Plans to Expand, Says U of G Prof
In the news again, Ontario Genomics supported, University of Guelph and University of Ottawa-led project received nation-wide coverage as a one-of-its-kind wastewater surveillance project for early and effective detection of COVID-19 variants.
September 3, 2021
The Role of Wastewater Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance
August 26, 2021
Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table members including Robert Delatolla and Allison McGeer explain the Role of Wastewater Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance. We are early supporters of this incredible work.
New Brunswick to lift remaining COVID-19 restrictions, but experts warn of relapse
July 29, 2021
Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician with the Sinai Health System in Toronto, and ONCoV Steering Committee member says she is sympathetic to Premier Blaine Higgs’ decision to loosen health protection measures — including mask wearing — given the fact that case numbers in New Brunswick remain low.
The Future of Genomics in a Post-Pandemic World
CanCOGeN researcher, Dr. Terry Snutch discussed COVID-19 research and the role of genomics in the current and future pandemics.
July 20, 2021
Will Canada have COVID booster shots this year? Probably, but not for everyone, experts say Social Sharing
Dr. Allison McGeer, ONCoV steering committee member was featured in CBC News special where she discussed COVID-19, it’s health implications, and vaccine rollouts.
July 8, 2021
Meet the Canadian scientist who paved the way for groundbreaking mRNA COVID vaccines
Ontario Genomics supported, University of Guelph and University of Ottawa-led project received nation-wide coverage as a one-of-its-kind wastewater surveillance project for early and effective detection of COVID-19 variants.
June 11, 2021
Ottawa scientists racing to come up with tests for new COVID variants
June 3, 2021
Ontario Genomics supported, University of Guelph and University of Ottawa-led project received nation-wide coverage as a one-of-its-kind wastewater surveillance project for early and effective detection of COVID-19 variants.
Sewage Surveillance: Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Wastewater across Ontario
Ontario Genomics, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa and CHEO announce a game-changing initiative to analyze COVID-19 in wastewater to improve public health response and better understand outbreaks in communities across Ontario
June 2, 2021
May 5, 2021
Genome Canada Goes Live with National Data Portal to Track COVID-19 in Real Time
April 27, 2021
WATCH: COVID-19 variants of concern
April 13, 2021
Genomics to the rescue — for Ontario, Canada and the world
April 5, 2021
New COVID-19 Antibody Test 'Glows' When Antibodies Are Present
April 5, 2021
Quality control in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing
April 1, 2021
Long COVID: What do we know?
April 1, 2021
Research focus: Bo Wang and machine learning in biomedicine
March 30, 2021
Genome Canada announces new Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Data Portal
March 23, 2021
How COVID-19 Spread in Canada
March 17, 2021
Canadore College joins Ontario’s effort to identify COVID-19 variants
Marchy 16, 2021
NPC Podcast – The Future of Genomics and Life Sci in Canada
Marchy 3, 2021
Request for Proposals:
Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal
Sparse data limit our ability to detect differences in infection rate and highlight the need for Public Health Ontario Laboratory and academic research groups across Ontario to sequence and archive SARS-CoV-2 genomes from COVID-19 cases, particularly over the course of the second wave. Ongoing SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, like the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) initiative, is essential to identify mutations that allow reconstruction of transmission pathways and detection of variants that affect transmissibility, virulence, or host mortality. We're happy to support this need-of-the-hour research through our Ontario COVID-19 Genomics Coalition (ONCoV) Network.
Genome Canada launched the Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal to track the evolving COVID-19 pandemic across Canada. By sharing and resourcing viral genome sequences the portal will offer scientists, public health leaders and other experts involved in shaping Canada’s pandemic response a clear picture of the virus across the country, including detection, transmission, evolution and tracking variants of concern.
Dr. Andrew McArthur, a leading expert on genome sequencing who runs a lab dedicated to genomic surveillance of infectious pathogens, is on the front lines of variant detection, creating computer models and software to gather data on new and possibly more infectious variants. In the following expert video, McArthur explains what COVID-19 variants of concern are what we need to do to protect against mutations of the virus. We're proud to be working with him on our ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Ontario’s COVID-19 Genomics Rapid Response Coalition.
It is globally recognized that real-time genomic surveillance is a key tool that needs to be widely adopted and utilized for seamless open data sharing. Ontario’s genomics community has the know-how to put genomics infrastructure and data sciences to work in a comprehensive and collaborative environment that enables much-needed data access and sharing. Our team is proud to have helped build the infrastructure supporting Ontario’s response. As the only organization with a complete end-to-end view of Ontario’s genomics sector, we have worked, since the earliest days of the pandemic, to break down silos and leverage the expertise of the entire sector in the fight against the virus. "We welcome the government of Ontario’s recent move to build on this coalition [ONCoV] framework with their own genomics-based viral surveillance program," says Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics. Read on to learn more about how genomics is the solution to a majority of issues faced by the world.
A group of Canadian scientists led by Dr. Igor Stagljar has developed an inexpensive test to detect COVID-19 antibodies in less than an hour using one drop of blood and the enzyme that gives fireflies their glow.
As scientists across Canada race to track the spread and evolution of COVID-19 through virus sequencing, software developed by Dr. Jared Simpson’s research team is enabling quality control of the samples being tested. We're proud to be working with Dr. Simpson through our ONCoV Genomics Coalition. Check out his Q&A with Genome Canada's CanCOGeN.
As the fight continues to reduce the number of new COVID-19 cases, health professionals and researchers are also exploring the long-term effects of this debilitating disease and why some people experience symptoms for a longer period than others. Read this article by Genome Canada to learn more.
Dr. Bo Wang, Univerity of Toronto, makes clear is that AI is no magic bullet and is far from perfect. Although it can aid analysis and decision-making in an era of data overload, it can only be truly of value if computer scientists, clinicians, and biological researchers work together to find solutions.
Genome Canada, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is pleased to announce the development of a new Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Data Portal that will manage and facilitate data sharing of viral genome sequences among Canadian public health labs, researchers and other groups interested in accessing the data for research and innovation purposes.
Dr. Allison McGeer, iInfectious disease physician and senior clinician scientist at the Sinai Health System, interviewed on TVO's The Agenda. One year anniversary from the global spread of the novel coronavirus and Canada's response.
“It is phenomenal to see such quick capacity building at Canadore College to support our province-wide efforts for increased sequencing to identify COVID-19 variants of concern,” said Bettina Hamelin, president and CEO of Ontario Genomics. “These training opportunities are essential for a sustainable pandemic response that reaches all parts of Ontario. Colleges like Canadore have a real opportunity to become the biotech training hubs we need right now and for decades to come.”
In the fifth episode of the third season of NPC HealthBiz Weekly, Peter Brenders, CEO of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, talks with Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics, about how Canada’s genomics research environment, industry partnerships, and funding have been affected during the pandemic.
Genome Canada has requested for proposals to develop a Canadian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Data Portal to enhance the value of sequence data. Application submission deadline: March 3rd, 2021
February 26, 2021
Ontario lab pioneering new COVID-19 test method calls for all positive samples to be checked for variants
This technology developed at LTRI, Mount Sinai Health was not originally intended for COVID-19, but senior investigator Jeff Wrana realized the platform they were using could be pivoted to detect variants with speed and accuracy.
February 4, 2021
Ontario to tap into genomics database
February 3, 2021
“The COVID Cloud Platform is an incredible platform that brings together resources & capacity to enable timely & comprehensive genomic analysis of #SARSCoV2 for our province & our country,” said Bettina Hamelin @ONGenomicsCEO , whose team leads the #ONCoV Genomics Coalition.
Vaccines, boosters, sequencing: What we know about the fight against COVID-19 variants
January 27, 2021
Genomic sequencing will be key in determining the prevalence of new, more transmissible variants of COVID-19 in Canada, experts say. Dr. Samira Mubareka, a microbiologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a member of our ONCoV Genomics coalition, weighed in on the importance of genome sequencing in understanding which mutations are showing up and figuring out what they do.
Using genome sequencing to track the new COVID-19 strain
In this video, Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, lead of the Canada-wide CanCOGeN initiative discusses the role of genomics in understanding and controlling new strains of COVID-19.
January 26, 2021
The CanCOGeN Detective Agency
January 25, 2021
Genomics sequencing is being used in Canada and around the world to help understand, control, and track SARS-CoV-2. Like any other organism, each variant of SARS-CoV-2 has a unique genetic code and if we can keep tabs on those variants and share the information, public health officials and researchers around the world will be able to study the mutations, see how fast they spread, and determine whether they cause more serious symptoms in people who get sick with COVID-19. To coordinate the effort, Genome Canada heads the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN). Catalina Lopez-Correa, Executive Director of CanCOGeN, in this podcast shared the progress CanCOGeN is making in its genomic detective work and how it can be used to manage the pandemic.
If dangerous COVID variants were spreading widely in Ontario, would we know? Why scientists are worried
January 24, 2021
With increasing reports of new, more dangerous COVID-19 variants in Ontario, experts say the province urgently needs more genomic sequencing, faster results, and policies that stifle the virus’s opportunities to evolve — a situation reminiscent of the earliest days of the pandemic, when the disease outstripped our ability to track and control it. Read on to learn more about what Dr. Samira Mubareka, a microbiologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a member of our ONCoV Genomics coalition, about sequencing SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes.
COVID-19 variants could be spreading across Canada. Are labs doing enough to detect them?
January 22, 2021
The executive director of the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN), Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa and associate professor of Biochemistry at McMaster University, Dr. Andrew McArthur spoke to Global News. They discussed the raging COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian efforts, and how genomic sequencing is the key to solving the coronavirus problem.
Genomic epidemiological analyses of the novel coronavirus using Nextstrain tools on Ontario-focused samples
Dr. Andrew McArthur of McMaster University, Dr. Finlay McGuire, an infectious disease epidemiology expert, and their teams have been collaboratively performing genomic analyses on SARS-CoV-2 data shared by GISIAD. Using Nextstrain tools, they have published Ontario-focused genomic evolutionary findings of the novel coronavirus as a part of ONCoV efforts.
January 17, 2021
Nextstrain analysed global open SARS-CoV-2 genomic and sequencing resources
December 15, 2020
Around the world, people are sequencing and sharing SARS-CoV-2 genomic data. The Nextstrain team analyzes these data on a global and continental level. More specific analysis are often performed by groups around the world. This page lists publicly available SARS-CoV-2 analyses that use Nextstrain from groups all over the world. In addition to exploring SARS-CoV-2 evolution in finished analyses, you can use our new Nextclade tool to compare your sequences to the SARS-CoV-2 reference sequence, assign them to clades, and see where they fall on a the SARS-CoV-2 tree.
Consortium Secures $5M to Expand Genomics Platform for COVID Research
December 1, 2020
A national consortium led by DNAstack will expand development of a software platform for genomics and health data and apply it to COVID-19. The $5.1M project, called COVID Cloud, is co-funded by Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster and aims to increase Canada’s capacity to harness exponentially growing volumes of genomics and biomedical data to advance precision health.
McMaster researchers awarded $1.475M to further investigate COVID-19
November 6, 2020
A team of McMaster researchers has been awarded $1.475M from the federal government to further investigate COVID-19. Overall, the fund will provide close to $28M for 79 projects at 52 universities, research hospitals, colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps across Canada
A closer look at Canada's homegrown COVID-19 vaccine candidates
Scientists across Canada are using a range of technologies, from more traditional protein subunit vaccines to newer technologies such as replicating viral vector and DNA vaccines to produce immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
October 19, 2020
Coronavirus antibodies last at least three months after infection, study suggests
October 8, 2020
Key members of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Samira Mubareka and Andrew McArthur conducted a collaborative study that shows antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in serum and saliva for > 3 months post-symptom onset. This research may be useful in monitoring immune responses in individuals & therefore, vaccine development.
Infectious disease expert urges public to trust the science
October 8, 2020
Kingston’s top infectious disease expert is asking the public to start trusting COVID-19-related science and the statistics. “We started off way back in the winter and spring with precautionary principles around a lot of things. Now we’ve learned lots and lots about the virus, so we can now apply evidence,” Dr. Gerald Evans, medical director of infection control at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.
Songbird flying high with Health Canada approval of double biomarker COVID-19 test device
October 2, 2020
Health Canada has approved a portable COVID-19 test kit which began as a testing regime for identifying pathogens, microbes and viruses in the European food and natural products industry. The Hyris Bcube developed by Guelph, Ontario-based Songbird Life Science Inc., in partnership with London, U.K.’s Hyris Ltd., is described as a portable DNA-based “laboratory in a box” for coronavirus testing in large urban spaces as well as more remote, indigenous communities in Canada’s north.
Canada's Bio-Revolution 2020 Webinar Series. "Editing our Economic Future: The Power of CRISPR”
September 28, 2020
A conversation between Gairdner Foundation laureates and leading Canadian researchers on using the opportunities and applications of gene editing, specifically by using CRISPR/Cas9, to transform multiple sectors, from therapeutics to diagnostics, agriculture, and low carbon manufacturing, all of which have a profound impact on our economy.
How Biotech is Changing the Way We Make Stuff
September 24, 2020
Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President & CEO, Ontario Genomics, discusses how increased federal funding for engineering biology could give Canada an edge on innovative manufacturing initiatives to spur economic recovery & create homegrown jobs.
Government of Canada: Policy Statement on Research Security and COVID-19
September 14, 2020
The Government of Canada is encouraging all members of the research ecosystem to be aware of the potential risks to their work and asking them to take appropriate measures to protect their knowledge creation and innovations, all while maintaining a strong commitment to Open Science and support for a global research response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Predicting the recombination potential of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
Key members of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Samira Mubareka and Andrew McArthur conducted a collaborative study analyzing and predicting the recombination potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
September 9, 2020
A Comparison of Whole Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 Using Amplicon-Based Sequencing, Random Hexamers, and Bait Capture
Three key members of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition, Bo Wang, Andrew McArthur, and Samira Mubareka conducted a study analyzing different genomic sequencing methods to understand which protocol works better for sequencing SARS-CoV-2.
August 17, 2020
ONCoV members funded through phase 2 of Ontario’s COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund
July 29, 2020
The Ontario Government announced phase two of funding for a number of research projects aimed at fighting COVID-19. The projects are a part of $20 million in funding that the Government has put towards the Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund, which focuses on research into “vaccine development, diagnostics, drug trials and development, and social sciences.”
Genetic detectives begin work to trace spread of COVID-19 in Canada
July 12, 2020
“Knowing how the virus spread will show where there were weaknesses in public health measures early on”, said Dr. Andrew McArthur, Director, biomedical discovery & commercialization at McMaster University and a key member of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition.
McMaster researcher traces spread of COVID-19 in Canada
July 12, 2020
One of the key members of the ONCoV Genomics Coalition Dr. Andrew McArthur, Director, biomedical discovery & commercialization at McMaster University is working on deducing how we tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and and what we can do to improve our response in future pandemics.
A simple protein-based SARS-CoV-2 surrogate neutralization assay
July 11, 2020
With the pandemic surpassing 12M confirmed cases & 550K deaths worldwide (by July 11, 2020), defining key components of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical. Members of ONCoV Genomics Coalition Allison McGeer & Samira Mubareka are a part of the research team.
Genomics in the battle against COVID-19
June 1, 2020
Genomics plays an important role in COVID-19 research, from detecting infections and understanding how the virus mutates, to tracking these mutations and developing vaccines and treatments. Watch our two animated videos: On the Trail of Covid-19 & The Race for a Cure
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
Genome Canada leads $40 million genomics initiative to address COVID-19 pandemic
Important new pan-Canadian Genomics partnership with $40M investment – CanCOGeN, a multi-pronged national approach to harnessing robust genomic solutions to meet the COVID-19 challenge head-on.
April 23, 2020
Canadian bioscience firm says it’s approved for production of rapid COVID-19 testing device
Ontario-made rapid COVID-19 genomics technology from Spartan Bio received approval for frontline use. This quick and portable innovation significantly expands Canada’s testing capacity.
April 12, 2020