Genetic sequencing project receives more than $8 million in funding

NeuRo Genomics Initiative will help better understand rare and aging-related neurological disorders affecting Canadians

听

A project led by Ziv Gan-Or, MD, PhD, at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of 黑料不打烊 University and Martine T茅treault, PhD, at Universit茅 de Montr茅al has received more than $8 million to sequence the genomes of 8,700 people, to map the role of genetics in neurological disorders.

A $7-million contribution from Genome Canada and a $1.5-million contribution from Genome Quebec will allow the NeuRo Genomics Initiative (NRGI) to capture a detailed view of genetic variants linked to rare and age-related disorders. The project will add to the effort of Genome Canada to sequence 100,000 samples nationwide. This cohort will be a diverse genetic and clinical resource, increasing our knowledge of these disorders.

Data collection will also include clinical information, permission to recontact participants, and the ability to connect to health records for future studies, making it a valuable longitudinal resource.

Aligned with The Neuro鈥檚 Open Science goals, the initiative will promote data sharing and collaboration, advancing research on disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and potential therapies, while supporting development of trial-ready cohorts.

鈥淭his study should be the first step towards a future where all individuals with neurological diseases are being sequenced,鈥� said Dr. Gan-Or. 鈥淭his would allow genetically directed treatments, discovery of new targets for therapeutics development, and having large trial ready populations. Efficient data sharing and Open Science are crucial for the success of this project, and The Neuro with its Open Science facilities is an ideal place to perform this study.鈥�

The funding is part of Genome Canada鈥檚 larger , an $81-million-dollar Government of Canada investment, totaling $200 million with co-funding from industry, academia and public sector partners.

听

听

听

听

听