The International Consortium Initiative (ICI), established in 2002, provides an opportunity for Genome Canada to participate as a major investor in unique international projects that will have significant impact on Canadian science and further enhance the status of Canada and Canadian scientists in the global community.

In order to be eligible for an ICI, the following criteria must be met:

  • The project must have clear international visibility.
  • The project must be led by a Canadian researcher whose major research activities will be in Canada.
  • The proposed project must involve an international consortium usually with some form of governance in which the funders will have a proportionate seat on the Board, based on the level of their financial commitment.
  • The project should be for a minimum of $50M over three years with other partners committing at least 75% of total costs.

The scale, scope and complexity of ICIs require significant input from Genome Canada, working with the scientists and other key stakeholders, in both the development of the proposal and the on-going governance and oversight.

Projects meeting the above criteria will be accepted at any time and reviewed on a "one off" basis through a joint peer review process developed by the funding partners.

The final decision regarding commitment of Genome Canada funds will be made by the Board of Directors of Genome Canada.

Funding

Funding for ICI proposals can occur in two stages, namely:

  1. Support for an initial International Workshop to develop the full proposal (to a maximum of $50,000), and

  2. Funding of the full ICI, where the total funding is a minimum of $50M over three years, with Genome Canada contributing a maximum of 25% of total eligible costs.

At this time Genome Canada does not have funds to support additional ICI proposals. Funds are available, however, for a limited number of workshops. The future ability of Genome Canada to fund ICIs is predicated on the raising of additional funds for genomics and proteomics research. As such, applicants are working "in good faith" in anticipation that Genome Canada will be successful in securing new funding.

Application Process

Applicants who are interested in submitting applications for ICI funding must contact Genome Canada and one of the six Genome Centres to initiate the application process. Genome Canada and the Genome Centre(s), involved with a particular ICI will actively communicate with the applicants concerning the application and will keep each other informed with respect to the progress of the application.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

Following the initial contact and expression of interest the applicant(s) must submit a Letter of Intent to Genome Canada. Genome Canada’s Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC) will assist in the review of the LOIs, providing advice to Genome Canada staff on the:

  • strategic importance of the proposed area(s) of research,
  • potential for impact in Canada,
  • potential for sustained leadership, by Canadian scientists in the field, and
  • inclusion of experts and other groups working in the area of proposed research.

Those applications that demonstrate the potential to pursue the development of a full ICI proposal will be offered administrative support and funding (to a maximum of $50,000) to hold an international workshop. The goal of the workshop is to bring together international and Canadian stakeholders (researchers and funders) to:

  • validate and confirm the potential and capacity for a Canadian-led ICI,
  • identify additional participants and funders, and
  • initiate the development of a proposal.

Submission of a Full Proposal

Genome Canada staff will work closely with the applicants, and the Genome Centre(s), as they develop their ICI proposals providing advice on programmatic issues, governance and funding. Genome Canada and Genome Centre staff will simultaneously engage in discussions with other potential funders and assist in determining appropriate governance structures, funding models, and in some cases, collaborate with funders in developing a joint peer review process.

The general review criteria for ICI projects are consistent with those established for other Genome Canada competitions. If appropriate, a joint peer-review process with potential funding partners will be undertaken, with the peer review recommendations submitted to each funding agency for consideration. In some cases each participating agency may undertake an independent review and decision regarding its financial commitment to the particular ICI.

ICI Proposals Funded to Date

The Structural Genomics Consortium

The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) is a not-for-profit consortium that aims to determine the three dimensional structures of proteins of medical relevance, for example proteins from Plasmodium falciparum the parasite that causes malaria, and place them in the public domain without restriction. The availability of these protein structures will greatly facilitate the development of new drugs. The SGC is led by Dr. Aled Edwards at the University of Toronto with additional activities at Oxford University and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. Each site is led by a Scientific Director reporting to Dr. Edwards. The SGC began in 2003 and the first phase of the project has delivered over and above its initial goals. An international review of the SGC carried out in May 2006 recognized the SGC as a world-leading and highly productive consortium that had successfully delivered on its mandate and had put Canada on the map as an international leader in this area. The committee of international experts recommended unanimously and with high enthusiasm that the SGC be supported for an additional four-year period. Phase II of the SGC has recently been launched with a testimony to its success being the fact that an additional two pharmaceutical companies, Merck and Novartis, have joined the Consortium. http://www.thesgc.com/

The Public Population Project in Genomics

The Public Population Project in Genomics (P3G) is a not-for-profit international consortium initiated in 2003 with the aim of fostering collaboration between researchers and projects in the field of population genomics. P3G is led by Canadian researchers Professor Bartha-Maria Knoppers and Dr. Tom Hudson. The goal of P3G is to facilitate the harmonization of samples and data from international biobanks. This harmonization will provide the large sample numbers needed (< 3 million) for studies of the genetic and environmental contributions to health and disease. These studies will generate new knowledge to improve public health and well-being. Another key component of P3G is the development of the CARTaGENE biobank that aims to collect samples and data from 50,000 Quebec citizens aged 40-69. As well as providing a resource for scientific discovery in Canada, the CARTaGENE biobank will serve as a 'test-bed' for P3G initiatives. P3G members represent large scale population based studies, with at least 10 000 participants followed over long periods of time, typically for decades. Members of P3G share their tools and their methodologies; however, each study controls access to its data and samples. There are already 25 countries and 17 biobanks members of the P3G Consortium. http://www.p3g.org/secretariat/index.shtml

The International Regulome Consortium

The International Regulome Consortium (IRC) is led by Dr. Michael Rudnicki at the University of Ottawa. This Canadian led international consortium includes Drs Jack Greenblatt and Janet Rossant at the University of Toronto, Professor Bartha Knoppers at the University of Montreal as well as key participants in France, the Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and the USA. The overarching goal of the IRC is to explore how gene function is regulated in mammalian cells during development with implications for stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Employing proteomics and genomics tools and using primarily the mouse as model, the project’s objectives are to identify interacting proteins and target genes for 570 transcription factors in different tissues and stages of development. Genome Canada’s funding of the IRC ends June 30, 2009.
http://www.internationalregulomeconsortium.ca/

ICI Proposals Awarded Workshop Funds

International Lepidopteran Genome Consortium, led by Basil Arif and Qili Feng, Great Lakes Forestry Centre

Poplar Tree Genomics: Assembly and Function of the First Tree Genome, led by Brian Ellis, University of British Columbia

Public Population Project in Genomics (P3G), led by Bartha Maria Knoppers, University of Montreal

International Regulome Consortium led by Michael A. Rudnicki, Ottawa Health Research Institute and Jack Greenblatt, University of Toronto.

Wine Grape Genomics Consortium led by Hennie J.J. van Vuuren, Wine Research Centre, University of British Columbia

International Barcode of Life Project led by Paul Hebert, University of Guelph

If you have questions about the International Consortium Initiative, please contact Kate Swan, M.Sc., Associate Director of International Genomics Programs at 613-751-4460, ext. 125 or kswan@genomecanada.ca