Harper Government Supports New Metabolomics Technology Demonstration Centre

News Release

January 22, 2015 – Edmonton, Alberta – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Corresponding Document : Photo Gallery

The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, today announced an investment of $2,983,800 towards state-of-the-art metabolomics assessment equipment to strengthen western Canadian companies’ ability to commercialize new discoveries.

This announcement reinforces Alberta’s position as a global leader in the emerging metabolomics market enabling Genome Alberta, together with the University of Alberta, to establish the Metabolomics Technology Demonstration Centre.

The equipment, a 700 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance machine and a Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer, will assist companies in the metabolomics sector move biomarkers from the research lab to the medical testing facility. Companies will test, validate, and assemble prototype kits using existing research from the University’s Metabolomics Innovation Centre’s biomarker panels, to cost-effectively create more accurate and less invasive medical tests.

In addition to an investment from the National Institute of Nanotechnology, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Metabolomics Technologies Inc. (MTI), and Genome Canada are also contributors towards this project.

Quick Facts

Metabolomics is a growing field of research that examines the comprehensive, qualitative and quantitative cellular-level activities in cells, tissues and organisms.
Metabolites provide scientists with a powerful route to measure gene-environment interactions, which is helpful in generating health solutions in human and animal health, agriculture and nutrition.
One-third of all metabolomics companies in the world are located in Alberta.
The University of Alberta houses the world’s largest collection of metabolomics standards and most of the world’s metabolomics data resources

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to support the establishment of the Metabolomics Technology Demonstration Centre. By creating a hub for scientists and businesses to transform innovative research discoveries into viable products, we are further positioning Alberta at the forefront of the metabolomics market."
- Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

"Genome Alberta has been supporting metabolomics research in Alberta for several years now and we're pleased to have been part of making Alberta an international focus in the field. Dr. Wishart's work is recognized around the world and we're looking forward to this WD funding being used to develop applied solutions in a number of key sectors."
- David Bailey, President and CEO, Genome Alberta

"The Metabolomics Technology Demonstration Centre will provide Canadian researchers with cutting-edge infrastructure and technical expertise to support translation of innovative biomarker discoveries into real life applications. We are very excited to work with our collaborators to develop prototype tools and products that will be implemented and commercialized through industry partnerships."
- Dr. David Wishart, Professor, Departments of Biological Sciences and Computing Science, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta

"Partnerships are the way to advance research and innovation into health. We are delighted to be part of the federal-provincial partnership that is supporting the translation of the work of Dr. Wishart and his team into products and technologies to improve health and wellbeing."
- Dr. Cy Frank, President and CEO, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

"We are pleased to see Canada’s Genomics Enterprise strengthened by this new federal investment in metabolomics. Breakthroughs across many sectors of importance to the social and economic wellbeing of Canadians rely on researchers across Canada having access to leading-edge ‘omics technologies, which are rapidly evolving."
- Dr. Pierre Meulien, President and CEO, Genome Canada

"MTI is proud to support the establishment of the Centre. As the commercial arm, MTI will use the equipment to accelerate biomarker validation trials and fulfill regulatory approvals necessary for commercialization of metabolomic-based products. We are excited to work with the Centre's sponsors and supporters and bring to market metabolomic-based research that benefits Canadians."
- Dr. Richard Fedorak, President, Metabolomic Technologies Inc.

Additional Links

Contacts

Emily Goucher
Office of the Minister
Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: 613-954-8097
Email: emily.goucher@wd-deo.gc.ca

Mike Spear
Director of Communications
Genome Alberta
Telephone: 403-813-5843
Email: mspear@genomealberta.ca

Scott Lingley
Communication Associate
University of Alberta
Telephone: 780-492-0436
Email: scott.lingley@ualberta.ca

Paul-Émile Cloutier
Vice-President, Advocacy and External Relations
Genome Canada
Telephone: 613-751-4460, ext. 219
Email: pecloutier@genomecanada.ca

Kathleen Thurber
Director, Corporate Communications
Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions
Telephone: 780-429-6895
Email: kathleen.thurber@albertainnovates.ca

Jean Forsythe
Project Coordinator
Metabolomic Technologies Inc.
Telephone: 780-293-8922
Email: jean.forsythe@metabolomictechnologies.ca

WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD. Follow us on Twitter at @WD_Canada.

Search for related information by keyword

Western Economic Diversification Canada Science and Technology Health and Safety Economics and Industry

Page details

2016-12-14

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Harper Government Supports New Metabolomics Technology Demonstration Centre

News Release

Page details