Genome Alberta moving to operational status as it waits for public launch

The structure and focus of genomics and proteomics research in western Canada is about to be realigned with the creation of Genome Alberta, the sixth genome centre under the Genome Canada umbrella. Genome Alberta is being split off from Genome Prairie and is established by an initial investment of $3 million from the Alberta government, which plans to position it as a key element of its forthcoming life sciences initiative. An official announcement is expected in January although the federal election may cause a delay.

The creation of a new genomics research centre is expected to lead to additional investments by the Alberta government and reflects the distinct direction that Alberta is forging in life sciences. The gestation of Genome Alberta has extended through much of 2005 and is being loosely modelled on Genome British Columbia, which is considered to have the most successful model of all the regional genome centres.

Negotiations between Genome Alberta and Genome Canada are nearly complete, and are being driven on the Alberta side by Dr Robert Fessenden, DM of Alberta Innovation and Science (AIS) and Dr Ronald Dyck, AIS’ ADM research. Alberta-based projects launched under Genome Prairie are being transferred to Genome Alberta.

A Genome Alberta board of directors has also been established which includes Dr Martin Godbout, president and CEO of Genome Canada, Dr Peter Hackett, president and CEO of Alberta Ingenuity, Dr Denis Fitzpatrick, VP research at the Univ of Lethbridge and former acting president of Genome Prairie, and Art Froelich, co-chair and board member of the Alberta Agriculture Research Institute.

Genome Alberta will be headed by interim president and CEO, Dr Randal Johnston and scientific director Dr Gijs van Rooijen.

Johnston and van Rooijen held similar positions at Genome Prairie, which has narrowed its focus to Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It will go forward under the leadership of Jerome Konecsni, formerly VP corporate development with Saskatoon’s Bioriginal Food & Science Corp and VP agricultural biotechnology at the Saskatchewan Research Council. Genome Prairie has also changed its corporate headquarters from Calgary to Saskatoon’s Innovation Place, with a satellite office in Winnipeg under consideration.

Genome Alberta has already established a web site (www.genomealberta.ca) and is seeking a president to replace Johnston.

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