Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Healthcare

Precision Health Initiative – Rare Diseases: Clinical Implementation Projects

Amount:

 $ 2,000,000 

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

Genome Canada has launched a national initiative for the clinical implementation of precision health, focusing on a rare disease pilot program as a foundational step. This project aims to translate research into clinical implementation with the goal of having genome sequencing offered as a clinical genetic test within an established diagnostic and clinical care pathway for rare diseases.

Comments on Funding:

Funding is up to 1/3 of the project budget from Genome Canada, from a minimum contribution of $100,000 to a maximum of $2 million.
The remaining project funding must be secured from other eligible sources, with at least 1/3 provided by the Receptor(s). 

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

Rolling deadline

Eligibility:

​Eligible projects must:

  • be co-led by an eligible Academic researcher and a a senior representative of a Receptor organization in partnership, with active and necessary roles for both,
  • develop and apply a genomics-derived tool, product or process to an opportunity or need defined by the Receptor(s);
  • focus on late stage R&D that will position the innovation for near term implementation / commercialization;
  • have the potential to generate significant social and/or economic benefits for Canada,
  • focus on using precision health approaches in rare diseases that are ready to be implemented in partnership with an existing publicly funded health care delivery organization (at the provincial or regional level that has the technological and organizational infrastructure needed to support the project). The organization should have the capabilities to implement clinical and laboratory workflows; install or upgrade local informatics systems linked to a central data repository; and, validate/benchmark technology platforms.

The applicant is an academic researcher and he must be:

  • be a faculty member of a Canadian university or affiliated, non-commercial entity, such as hospitals and research institutes,
  • be a researcher in a not-for-profit corporation, including community or charitable organizations, if his organization has an explicit research mandate,
  • analyze province specific health technology assessment data to determine the clinical utility, cost utility and cost effectiveness of genomic sequencing,
  • commit to working with other rare disease clinical implementation projects funded through this mechanism to share best practices and harmonize data capture,
  • commit to data sharing, data standards, consents and other policies that comply with the guidelines for the overall initiative and are consistent with the principles and policies of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, the nternational Rare Diseases International Research Consortium and the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship.

The Receptors must:

  • be organizations that intend to put the resulting innovation into practice (in internal operations, by commercialization, or otherwise making it available to its ultimate users),
  • be companies (private / public, Canadian / foreign-owned, including small or start up companies),
  • be industry consortia,
  • be government departments and agencies (federal, provincial and municipal),
  • be healthcare organizations,
  • be not-for-profit organizations,
  • have clear decision-making processes independent of the Academic Leader. 

Application Steps:

1

Applicants must submit their GAPP applications and the supporting documents via a regional Genome Centre.
They must contact their regional Genome Centre for more information.

Documentation Needed: 

​Applicants must:

  • submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) which includes a summary of the proposed project and its value proposition,
  • “pitch” their project via teleconference to a panel of external industry and technical experts convened by Genome Canada, if invited to,
  • submit the Supplementary Proposal which provides a more thorough description of several sections of the EOI, including a detailed explanation of the technical aspects, project plan and budget, if invited.

Other Things to Note:

Genome Canada is again welcoming Expressions of Interest for the GAPP. Please contact your Regional Genome Centre for more information on the application process and timelines (June, 2021).

Program Contact:

​Precision Health Initiative – Rare Diseases: Clinical Implementation Projects

​gc-gappinvestmentstrategyandguidelines.pdf​​​