Genomics Sector Innovation Network
The genomics sector innovation network portal was developed to highlight and support the genomics sector in Ontario and was created by the Ontario Genomics Institute.
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| Nonprofit organization | |
| Founded | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Headquarters | MaRS Discovery District |
| Website | Genomics Sector Innovation Network (G-SIN) |
What is Genomics?
Genomics is the holistic, systematic, and high-throughput characterization of genomes—the full complement of DNA underlying the genetic make-up of a given organism. Though smaller genomes had been previously completely sequenced, the consideration of the possibility of doing so for the entire human genome crystallized the notion of a new paradigm for the life sciences, intended to enable and accelerate traditional hypothesis-driven research.
Genomics has since been generalized to capture the application of this approach (holistic, systematic and high-throughput) to any and all aspects of life sciences, but many of these applications have also stimulated the coining of a much broader vocabulary of "omics" applications, for example: functional genomics (the characterization of the cellular functions of the genome's genes and proteins for which they code); proteomics (the characterization of all the kinds of proteins for which the genome codes); metabolomics (the characterization of all the metabolites in an organism); transcriptomics (the characterization of all transcribed RNA molecules within an organism); epigenomics (the characterization of all epigenetic modifications to the genome); and glycomics (the characterization of all the kinds of polysaccharide polymers attached to other macromolecules in an organism).
Genomics - and the scale, scope and strategy it brings to life sciences research - has emerged as an important, complementary alternative to traditional approaches to R&D. It is, on the one hand, focused on gaining insight, at the molecular level, into genes and the proteins for which they code; and, on the other hand, reflects a new scientific paradigm for life sciences research that came into play over the past decade and which is blossoming as we move into the 21st century.
The growth of genomics and the resulting boom in technology development have created a tremendous global impact on our knowledge and understanding of the molecular basis of life. This impact ranges from drug and pesticide discovery to industrial enzymology, to crop and livestock cultivation, to environmental remediation, to natural resource management, and to criminal and civil law. This impact of these changes in technological underpinnings has also been reflected in other sectors focused more on societal implications, including public policy, education, journalism, fine arts, and entertainment.
Genomics in Ontario
The genomics sector in Ontario consists of the individuals, institutions, and associations—a sub-set of the province's life-sciences industry—who are working:
- to create deeper understanding in the life sciences through genomics;
- to generate and maintain genomics resources (databases, instruments, reagents, software) for use in the public and private sectors;
- to translate this understanding and these resources into products which may be beneficial to society through the development of new products and services that can be distributed in the commercial marketplace.
This industry includes universities and private research institutions, individual and institutional investors, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and related companies, and the various public and private institutions devoted to servicing and supporting these enterprises.
There are more than 500 scientists conducting research in genomics located at 20 universities, research institutions, hospitals and government laboratories across the province. These individuals are generating genomics discoveries and innovations as well as using genomic tools and products.
Life Sciences Industry
- More than half the country's brand-name pharmaceutical and medical devices industries and almost half the medical biotechnology industry are located in Ontario.
- Ontario is North America's 3rd largest regional concentration of biotechnology firms and the 6th largest in revenues earned.
- The province's bio-medical sector employs more than 33,000 highly educated people and posted more than $1.0 billion in revenues in 2002.
- The biotechnology sector is built on world-class science and is involved in leading edge research in molecular biology and medical genetics.
- Ontario's pharmaceutical sector employs more than 15,000 talented people and includes global giants like GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, Biogen, Genzyme, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and home-grown stars like Biovail Corporation, Apotex, and Patheon.
- Ontario has achieved worldwide recognition as a site for clinical trials because of its large and ethnically diverse patient population and a centrally managed public health-care system.
- Ontario's medical devices sector employs more than 19,000 highly educated people and comprises more than 500 manufacturing companies that include global subsidiaries as well as niche-driven domestic companies.
- Ontario's agricultural-biotech / bioproducts sector employs more than 6,000 people, including 700 scientists and invests $166 million annually in agricultural-food research at 12 world-class institutions.
- This sector works closely with the manufacturing sector in the production of bio-chemicals and bio-fuels.
- Ontario ranks in the top three jurisdictions in North America in terms of workforce and R&D expenditures in the agricultural-biotechnology sector.
Finally, there are number of technology platforms scattered throughout the province of Ontario, providing world class support and infrastructure for innovative research and services in genomics and proteomics.