Table 3: Horizontal initiatives

General information

Name of horizontal initiative Genomics R&D Initiative ( GRDI )
Lead department(s) National Research Council Canada ( NRC )
Federal partner organization(s) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ( AAFC ), Canadian Food Inspection Agency ( CFIA ), Fisheries and Oceans Canada ( DFO ), Environment Canada ( EC ), Health Canada ( HC ), National Research Council Canada ( NRC ), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Public Health Agency of Canada ( PHAC ). Canadian Institutes for Health Research ( CIHR ) received a onetime allocation in 1999-2000.
Non-federal and non-governmental partner(s) Not applicable
Start date of the horizontal initiative April 1999, renewed in 2002-03, 2005-06, 2011-12, and 2014-15
End date of the horizontal initiative March 2019
Total federal funding allocated (start to end date) (dollars) 393,300,000
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars) 333,600,000
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars) 332,300,000
Funding contributed by non‑federal and non‑governmental partners Not applicable
Governance structures

An interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister ( ADM ) Coordinating Committee ( CC ) has been established to oversee collective management and coordination of the federal GRDI . It is chaired by the lead agency ( NRC ) with membership at the ADM -level from each of the organizations receiving funding and guest representatives from Industry Canada and Genome Canada. It is responsible for the overall strategic direction for the GRDI and approval of investment priorities. It ensures that effective priority setting mechanisms are established within departments and agencies, and that government objectives and priorities are addressed. The Committee also ensures that common management principles are implemented and collaborations between organizations are pursued wherever relevant and possible. It typically meets three times a year at the call of the Chair, more often when warranted by specific needs for decision-making.

An Interdepartmental Working Group ( WG ) supports the work of the committee. It is chaired by the lead agency ( NRC ) with membership at the Director level from all participating departments/agencies, and Industry Canada. The mandate of the WG is to provide recommendations and strategic advice to the ADM CC regarding strategic priority setting and overall management of the GRDI . The WG is responsible for providing direction to GRDI program activities related to operational delivery, implementation planning and investment priority setting. The WG also supports evaluation and reporting requirements related to the Initiative. It meets about every two months, more often when warranted by specific needs for recommendations and advice, as well as to develop and approve the GRDI Annual Performance Report.

A Coordination Function, housed at NRC , provides GRDI -wide program coordination, communication, networking and outreach support. This includes support to the ADM CC and the GRDI WG , transparent and effective communication to departments of the planning cycle, process requirements, financial administration and other project management requirements, and support for interdepartmental shared project planning and implementation. This function is also responsible for conducting studies and analyses to serve as input to determination of GRDI -wide research priorities, and providing management and administration support, as well as support for performance management, reporting, evaluation, and communications.

Contact information Roman Szumski
Vice-President, Life Sciences
National Research Council Canada
(61993-9244

Results information

Description of the horizontal initiative The Genomics R&D Initiative ( GRDI ) supports genomics research inside federal government laboratories. It focuses on mandates and priorities of participating departments and agencies. Research supported by the GRDI covers areas such as health care, food safety and global food security, sound management of natural resources, a sustainable and competitive agriculture sector, and environmental protection, with collaboration with university and private sectors. Since the implementation of the GRDI in 1999, participating departments and agencies have built a solid genomics research capacity and have gone a long way to deliver on the Initiative’s stated objectives, as confirmed by two independent evaluations (2006 and 201and an audit by the Office of the Comptroller General (2012).
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2021-22
Shared outcome of federal partners The GRDI Horizontal Performance Measurement Strategy was updated for Phase VI . The updated version covers fiscal years 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 and formalizes the roles and responsibilities of the eight departments and agencies involved in the Initiative to support effective monitoring and evaluation activities. It presents three intermediate outcomes:
  1. Federal science departments and agencies are positioned as genomics research leaders;
  2. Research results are used to inform government regulatory, policy, and/or resource management decisions; and
  3. Research results are used by stakeholders to support innovation in Canada; contributing to the Government of Canada Outcomes: Healthy Canadians; Strong economic growth; An innovative and knowledge-based economy; and A clean and healthy environment.
Performance indicator(s) GDRI is managed using a comprehensive performance measurement framework to gauge progress towards the above 3 shared outcomes. Examples of performance indicators include:
  1. Scientific production and impact in genomics
  2. Case analysis of examples where risk assessment, regulatory, policy, and resource management decisions have been informed by GRDI research (federal, provincial, municipal)
  3. Case analysis of examples where innovative tools and processes have been adopted in Canada based upon GRDI research
Target(s) Targets for the above examples are:
  1. On par or better than other genomics researchers in Canada
  2. Positive impact based on qualitative case study analysis
  3. Positive impact based on qualitative case study analysis
Data source and frequency of monitoring and reporting The data for the above examples is derived from program Evaluation every 5 years
Expected outcome or result of non-federal and non-governmental partners Not applicable

Planning Information

Federal organizations Link to departmental Program Alignment Architectures Contributing programs and activities Total allocation (from start to end date) ($ millions) 2017-18 Planned spending ($ millions) 2017-18 Expected results 2017-18 Performance indicators 2017-18 Targets Link to department’s Strategic Outcomes Link to government priorities
AAFC Science, Innovation, Adoption and Sustainability Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative ( CCGI ) 108,500,000 4,440,000

Table 3 note ER1

Table 3 note ER2

Table 3 note PI1

Table 3 note T1

Table 3 note T2

An innovative and sustainable agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
CFIA Food Safety Program, Animal Health and Zoonotics Program, Plant Resources Program GRDI 3,600,000 720,000

Table 3 note ER3

Table 3 note PI3.1

Table 3 note PI3.2

Table 3 note T3

A Safe and Accessible Food Supply and Plant and Animal Resource Base A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
DFO Biotechnology and Genomics National Aquatic Biotechnology and Genomics R&D Strategy 16,495,000 720,000

Table 3 note ER4

Table 3 note PI4

Table 3 note T4

Economically Prosperous Maritime Sectors and Fisheries A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
EC Climate Change and Clean Air Strategic Technology Applications of Genomics in the Environment ( STAGE ) 18,550,000 800,000

Table 3 note ER5

Table 3 note PI5

Table 3 note T5

Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
HC Canadian Health System Policy
Health System Priorities
GRDI 53,120,000 105,904

Table 3 note ER6

Table 3 note PI6

Table 3 note T6

A health system responsive to the needs of Canadians A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
Health Products
Biologics & Radiopharmaceuticals
GRDI 2,140,000 528,601

Table 3 note ER6

Table 3 note PI6

Table 3 note T6

Health risks and benefits associated with food, products, substances, and environmental factors are appropriately managed and communicated to Canadians A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
Food Safety and Nutrition
Food Safety
GRDI 930,000 235,964

Table 3 note ER6

Table 3 note PI6

Table 3 note T6

Health risks and benefits associated with food, products, substances, and environmental factors are appropriately managed and communicated to Canadians A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
Environmental Risks to Health
Health Impacts of Chemicals
GRDI 2,910,000 729,531

Table 3 note ER6

Table 3 note PI6

Table 3 note T6

Health risks and benefits associated with food, products, substances, and environmental factors are appropriately managed and communicated to Canadians A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
NRC Technology Development and Advancement GRDI 108,500,000 4,440,000

Table 3 note ER1

Table 3 note ER7

Table 3 note PI7.1

Table 3 note PI7.2

Table 3 note T1

Table 3 note T7

Canadian businesses prosper from innovative technologies A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
Shared Priorities 28,855,000 3,980,000

Table 3 note ER8

Table 3 note PI7.1

Table 3 note PI7.2

Table 3 note T8

Multiple Strategic Outcomes across departments A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
NRCan Innovation for New Products and Processes GRDI 36,100,000 1,600,000

Table 3 note ER9

Table 3 note PI9.1

Table 3 note PI9.2

Table 3 note T9

Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors are Globally Competitive A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
PHAC Public Health Infrastructure GRDI 13,100,000 1,600,000

Table 3 note ER10

Table 3 note PI10.1

Table 3 note PI10.2

Table 3 note T10

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy
CIHR N/A N/A 500,000 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total for all federal organizations 393,300,000 19,900,000 Not applicable

Table notes

Table 3 note ER1

Using genomics to significantly increase Canada's share of global wheat production

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Table 3 note PI1

Number of scientific outputs generated in the form of scientific papers

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Table 3 note T1

NRC will continue to support the Canadian Wheat Improvement Program in the areas of tolerance to disease and abiotic stress, genomics-assisted breeding, and seed development. This program is NRC 's contribution to the Canadian Wheat Alliance, a large-scale research alliance to improve the yield, sustainability, and profitability of Canadian wheat for the benefit of Canadian farmers and the economy. AAFC supports the objectives of the Alliance through its Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative. The Alliance also includes major contributions by the University of Saskatchewan, and the Province of Saskatchewan. The target for the number of scientific outputs generated in the form of scientific papers is set at 45.

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Table 3 note ER2

Using genomics to improve the value of Canadian crops and agri-products

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Table 3 note T2

GRDI investments at AAFC will focus on the priorities outlined in the Canadian Crop Genomics Initiative, and will be leveraged to enable industry to take advantage of new innovative opportunities. Activities will fall under three broad themes: 1) Biodiversity, gene mining and functional analysis: to develop value-added traits (e.g. seed quality) for the highly competitive marketplace, enhancing the resiliency of Canada's crop production in the face of potentially catastrophic abiotic and biotic stresses and to maximize profitability for the sector. 2) Bioinformatics and physical tools: ensuring that scientists can maximize the opportunities presented by genomics-based research (e.g. identification and characterization of genes coding for desirable traits related to seed quality or disease resistance). 3) Improved access to biological materials and data sets: to enhance the efficiency of plant breeding to lay the scientific foundation for major advances in the development and delivery of priority traits identified by industry (e.g. disease resistance).

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Table 3 note ER3

Using genomics for food safety, animal health and plant protection

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Table 3 note PI3.1

Number of standard operating procedures/tools developed and/or transferred to end users to support risk management strategies

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Table 3 note PI3.2

Number of scientific outputs generated in the form of publications, presentations and contributions to databases to support evidence-based regulatory, policy or resource management decisions

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Table 3 note T3

Funds from GRDI will be targeted to increase the genomics capability within CFIA to support on-site diagnostic tools and surveillance capabilities. Specifically, GRDI activities will focus on three areas: 1) Food Safety: to better support CFIA in the areas of compliance testing, source attribution and risk profiling, enabling enforcement of Health Canada standards. 2) Plant Resources: to enable early detection and rapid response, and inform regulatory decision-making for regulated plant pests and plant commodities within the agricultural and forestry sectors. 3) Animal Health: to support management of public health risks associated with the transmission of zoonotic diseases and reportable and emerging animal diseases.

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Table 3 note ER4

Genomics knowledge and advice for the management of fisheries and oceans

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Table 3 note PI4

Percentage of GRDI projects that provided genomics knowledge and advice to decision makers

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Table 3 note T4

Genomics-enabled research within DFO will continue to be aligned within the following themes: 1) Protecting fish species and enabling sustainable harvesting: to develop and apply leading-edge genomics tools to accurately identify species, farmed/wild interactions, populations and stocks for fisheries management and the conservation of vulnerable stocks, species at risk and aquatic biodiversity. 2) Safeguarding Canadian fish and seafood products: to develop innovative genomics techniques to detect, monitor and minimize the impact of pathogens (e.g. Infectious Salmon Anemia virus) in order to safeguard the health of Canada's aquatic resources and our export markets for fish and seafood products. 3) Maintaining healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems: to develop and apply new genomics tools to monitor, mitigate and restore aquatic ecosystems.

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Table 3 note ER5

Genomics-based tools and technologies for responsible decision-making

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Table 3 note PI5

Increased awareness and understanding of the five Strategic Technology Applications of Genomics in the Environment ( STAGE ) research priorities

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Table 3 note T5

EC will continue to deliver its GRDI funding under the STAGE program, in the following areas: 1) Chemical and biological risk assessment: to establish toxicology end points for microorganisms, chemicals of concern, and emerging stressor; and to predict the mode of action of chemicals of concern and their effects on organisms;  2) Wildlife conservation: to understand how genes are interacting in flora and fauna in response to environmental conditions and to track disease in wildlife; 3) Environmental monitoring: to develop indicators (e.g., gene expression profiles for key species) of ecosystem health in priority ecosystems (e.g., Great Lakes and St. Lawrence) and to track pathogen sources; and 4) Compliance and Enforcement: to analyze flora and fauna for individual species identification, parentage determination and ascertaining geographic origin. This work will enable the delivery of EC 's obligation under the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and programs including the Chemicals Management Plan.

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Table 3 note ER6

Genomic knowledge for the Canadian health regulatory system

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Table 3 note T6

Genomics research will continue to focus on four priority investment areas to strengthen HC 's regulatory role: 1) Supporting regulatory knowledge on therapeutics and biologics: to inform and support regulatory decisions throughout the biotherapeutic product life-cycle. Specifically, HC will continue with research projects on vaccines and emerging stem cell based projects. During the 2016‑17 fiscal year, HC stem cell research will identify molecules that can be used to monitor the safety and effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell based products. In addition, vaccine research projects will be developing a list of immune cell markers that can be used to improve current methods for monitoring the efficacy of Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccines. 2) Supporting regulatory knowledge on food safety and nutrition: enabling detection and characterization of food-borne micro-organisms; characterization of health effects of food contaminants, allergens, nutrients, novel foods/food ingredients, and pre- and pro-biotics; and development of markers of health status and disease (e.g. cancer, diabetes, obesity, allergies and cardiovascular disease) in the context of nutrition, micro-organisms, allergens and food contaminant exposure. 3) Protecting human health from potential adverse effects of environmental contaminants, radiation, consumer products and pesticides. 4) Research on socio-ethical impacts of genomics technologies, outputs and products: approaches for responsible integration of genomics for societal benefit, taking into account ethical, legal and socio-economic considerations.

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Table 3 note PI6

Percentage of targeted knowledge transfer activities accomplished related to genomic research (e.g., client meetings, poster/conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications)

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Table 3 note ER7

Commercially-relevant advances in genomics R&D related to human health

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Table 3 note PI7.1

Technology deployment (client commitments to exploit NRC innovations)

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Table 3 note PI7.2

Client/stakeholder feedback on benefits: jobs, sales, R&D

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Table 3 note T7

GRDI investments in NRC will be made in program areas that require genomics to help industry and government tackle strategic national priorities (e.g. strong economic growth, healthy Canadians, innovative and knowledge-based economy) through mission-oriented research and technology deployment. GRDI 's human health-related focus will support NRC 's Biologics and Subsequent Entry Biologics program. This program was approved for implementation by NRC 's Senior Executive Committee after undergoing a rigorous program approval and implementation process.

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Table 3 note ER8

Concerted interdepartmental research along shared priorities and common goals on issues that are beyond the mandates of single departments

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Table 3 note T8

Two new shared priority projects will be launched in 2016-2017. The Antimicrobial Resistance project will develop a greater understanding of the critical activities that contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance and critical exposure pathways by which antimicrobial bacteria reach humans, which could then be used to help validate economically sustainable technologies, practices, and policies to mitigate the development of antimicrobial resistance; it is a key component of the Federal Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada. The Metagenomic-Based Ecosystem Biomonitoring (EcoBiomics) project will develop advanced genomics tools to monitor drinking and recreational water quality, assess the biodiversity of freshwater invertebrates and microorganisms, evaluate the health of soil essential to the productivity of agricultural and forestry systems across Canada, and investigate land remediation for the oil and mining sectors. The main impact of this project will be to support environmental responsibility, secure market access for resource products and improve social license for economic development in Canada.

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Table 3 note ER9

Genomic knowledge for forest generation and protection

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Table 3 note PI9.1

Number of new products and processes resulting from NRCan information

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Table 3 note PI9.2

R&D expenditures in natural resource sectors, specifically total intramural R&D expenditures in energy, mining and forest sectors

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Table 3 note T9

The Canadian Forest Service of NRCan will focus on accelerating the translation of accumulated genomics knowledge into applications in support of Canada's forest sector competitiveness, including: 1) Forest generation: the development of innovative genomic applications will result in accelerated production of higher quality fibre, translating into economic and environmental benefits for Canada. 2) Forest protection: the development of innovative genomic diagnostic tools will enable rapid detection and management of invasive insects and diseases which threaten the health and ecological integrity of Canadian forests, the forest sector and forest communities.

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Table 3 note ER10

Genomics knowledge to strengthen public health programs and activities related to infectious and chronic disease

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Table 3 note PI10.1

Percent of clients indicating overall satisfaction with laboratory reference services as “satisfied” or “very satisfied”

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Table 3 note PI10.2

Number of citations to agency laboratory research publication to demonstrate knowledge transfer uptake

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Table 3 note T10

The genomic study of pathogens and their traits associated with infectious diseases generate rapid and cost effective new approaches to disease surveillance, prevention, and control (e.g. molecular tools to better identify organisms associated with disease outbreaks). GRDI research activities at PHAC apply "-omics" technologies to generate new knowledge to support public health decision making, and to create new tools to enhance disease prevention and control. These technologies are providing methods to enhance: 1) the prevention and control of priority pathogens; 2) the response to antimicrobial resistant pathogens; 3) infectious disease surveillance; and 4) public health security measures. The knowledge generated from genomic approaches is supporting more detailed risk analyses, as well as the identification and development of new intervention points for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The targets for PI10.1 and 10.2 are set at 90% and 1800 respectively.

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