Genomics Research and Development Initiative

The Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI) was first implemented in 1999 to support genomics research in eight federal science departments and agencies and is now in its sixth funding cycle. In 2014, the Government of Canada committed $99.5 million over five years for GRDI to continue research in agriculture, environment, fisheries, forestry and health, focusing on the role of federal government research.

GRDI supports increasingly complex federal evidence-based regulatory, policy and technology development decisions required by the respective mandates of participating departments and agencies, as well as the development of new policies and standards. It also supports the ability to anticipate and respond to the needs of Canadians in areas of government responsibility for public health, the economy and the environment.

GRDI structure and funding

Each year, GRDI provides $19.9 million to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Health Canada (HC), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

In its current phase, GRDI funds 85 research projects in individual government departments and agencies to support regulatory, public policy, and operational mandates. GRDI also supports a model of interdepartmental horizontal research projects, in which 20% of the resources are set aside to enable departments and agencies to work together in shared priority projects on issues that are beyond the mandates of single departments.

Two new shared priority projects

Two new shared priority projects are now being launched: the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) project and the Metagenomics-Based Ecosystem Biomonitoring (EcoBiomics) project. The AMR project involves 22 scientists and their teams, from five federal departments and agencies: AAFC, CFIA, HC, NRC and PHAC. The EcoBiomics project involves 27 scientists and their teams, from seven federal departments and agencies: AAFC, CFIA, DFO, ECCC, NRC, NRCan, and PHAC.

Like the previous shared priority projects, these new projects will receive 20 percent of the GRDI funding given to participating departments and agencies. This amounts to $9 million over five years for each new shared priority project. In addition to this funding, the AMR project will leverage an additional $15 million for a total of $24 million over five years, while the EcoBiomics project will leverage an additional $6 million for a total of $15 million over five years.

GRDI impacts

The Genomics Research and Development Initiative is expected to have real and lasting longer-term impacts. Based on partial estimates and conservative assumptions, its benefits range in the hundreds of millions of dollars. These impacts will be realized in the following ways:

• increased safety and security of Canada's food supply;
• avoided health system costs;
• minimized transmission of diseases;
• cost-effective, timely and accurate information and testing methods for decision-makers;
• improved detection of invasive species;
• forest product innovation and economic opportunities for natural resources;
• improved fisheries tracking and management;
and
• minimized threats from pollution to Canadians and their environment.

These benefits all respond to the needs of Canadians in areas of government responsibility for the well-being and health of Canadians, environmental sustainability, evidence-based decision-making, the formulation of policies, standards and regulations, as well as support for Canadian commercial enterprises.

About genomics

Genomics is the study of DNA sequences, that tell the story of the functions of the tens of thousands of genes found in living organisms, and their complex interactions. Genomics provides a unique understanding of complex biological processes. Genomics also provides techniques to analyse biological markers for detection, monitoring, and diagnostics, and has applications in all areas of life.

For more information on GRDI

The Genomics Research and Development Initiative website offers information about the initiative, genomics research and its applications, success stories, performance reports and collaborators.