Seven teams led by UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers have been awarded new federal funding to accelerate genomics-based health innovations in collaboration with industry partners.
The funded projects bring together UBC scientists and Canadian biotechnology companies to develop genomic solutions that are implementation and market ready, accelerating the translation of research into real-world health and economic benefits.
The collaborations tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing Canadians, including enhanced pathogen detection and disease diagnosis, and improved treatments and care for people with cancer, Type 1 diabetes, endometriosis and more.
The funding is part of a $20 million federal investment announced today by the Government of Canada. The funds are distributed through the Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) from Genome Canada and regional genome centres, including Genome BC.
Four out of the 13 national GAPP projects were awarded to teams led by researchers affiliated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, highlighting UBC and B.C.’s national leadership in genomics research and innovation. Another three UBC-led projects were awarded funding through the award’s regional stream, the BC-GAPP.
GAPP is a core delivery instrument of the Canadian Genomics Strategy. It supports collaborations between academic researchers and industry, emphasizing partnerships, co-investments and knowledge transfer to support Canadian research, innovation and commercialization.
National GAPP funded projects
Rapid Agnostic Pathogen Identification using Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (RAPID-mNGS)
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Amee R. Manges, School of Population and Public Health
- Industry Partner: Dr. Sam Chorlton, BugSeq Bioinformatics
This project aims to improve detection, surveillance and early identification of emerging respiratory pathogens across Canada. The team will validate their made-in-BC BugSeq platform to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and strengthen Canadian biosecurity and pandemic preparedness.
Validation and Process Development Scale Up of a Tolerogenic mRNA/LNP Therapeutic
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Megan Levings, School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Surgery
- Industry Partner: Dr. Chris Tam, Integrated Nanotherapeutics Inc.
Partnering with UBC’s new Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF), the team will optimize and manufacture an mRNA based therapy for Type 1 diabetes in preparation for a future clinical trial. This project can transform care landscape for Type 1 diabetes, help build Canada’s ability to manufacture advanced mRNA medicines and open doors to new treatments for other autoimmune diseases.
GenTraceDx: Commercialization of a Turnkey Precision Oncology Platform Featuring Matched Tumor-Normal WES, Real-Time AI-Driven Interpretation, and Clinic-Ready Test Kits for Scalable Deployment
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Steven Jones, Department of Medical Genetics
- Dr. Industry Partner: June Wong, Genetrack Biolabs Inc.
This team is developing a clinical platform containing tumour sequencing information enhanced by an AI engine that dynamically include new treatments, biomarkers and clinical trials throughout the treatment journey. It can decrease dependency on costly foreign diagnostics, enable personalized cancer care and ensure that patient data are protected through Canadian privacy standards and secure digital systems.
Identification and Validation of Antibody Therapeutic Targets for Development in Endometriosis
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Paul Yong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Co-PI: Dr. David Huntsman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
- Industry Partner: Dr. Laura Williamson, AbCellera Biologics Inc.
A partnership with BC-based experts in endometriosis and genomics will identify novel ways to develop antibody-based therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition that costs Canada more than $1.8 billion annually. The initiative advances Canadian discoveries toward a first‑in‑class therapy and strengthens Canada’s leadership in women’s health innovation and biotech.
BC-GAPP projects
Targeted Metagenomics for Enhanced Infectious Disease Diagnosis
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Patrick Tang, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Industry Partner: Dr. Mohammed Qadir, Fusion Genomics
This project aims to develop a clinically validated system to translate metagenomic sequencing data into clinically actionable results. This will enable healthcare providers to identify true infections and select appropriate treatments. Ultimately, this initiative supports faster diagnosis, strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and establish a model for advancing the clinical utility of genomics in Canada.
A First-in-Class Dual-Function SiRNA to Address Limitations of Anticoagulants in Thrombotic Disease
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Marcel Bally, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Industry Partner: Dr. Lih Jiin Juang, Seragene Therapeutics
A novel RNA therapeutic to target clotting related conditions such as Thromboinflammation — a prevalent complication and cause of death among cancer patients — is a core focus of this project. The team will evaluate the product’s safety and efficacy to overcome a persistent issue of current treatments.
Optimized Production of Immune Cells as Advanced Delivery Vehicles for Protein Therapeutics
- UBC Investigator: Dr. Peter Zandstra, School of Biomedical Engineering
- Industry Partner: Dr. Glenn MacLean, Apiary Therapeutics
Cell based therapies that act as living medicine, capable of producing therapeutic proteins directly within a patient, offer significant advantages for individuals with chronic diseases who require frequent drug dosing. This project uses advanced single‑cell analysis and machine learning to create a foundation for large scale production of such engineered cells, moving the technology closer to clinical use.
